We should have known this one was something special. After all, who scores 52 points in a game -- as a sophomore?

	Jackie Stiles could make an immediate impact in the WNBA.

But from the time she stepped on the court in Springfield, Mo., you had a feeling Southwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles was capable of great things. And Thursday night, she became the NCAA scoring leader.

Throughout her career, there have been many highlights. As a freshman, she averaged 20.6 points. In her sophomore campaign, Stiles ranked second among NCAA Division I scoring leaders with a 25.7 average, became the first sophomore in Missouri Valley Conference history to be named Player of the Year and poured in a school-record 52 points against Baylor in a road victory.

As a junior, Stiles led the nation in scoring with a 27.8 average and broke her own school record, pouring in 56 points (the fourth-best single-game effort in NCAA history) against Evansville in the MVC semifinals.

Heading into the game Thursday against Creighton, Stiles needed just 20 points to take over the top spot on the NCAA scoring leaders chart. She did it with a 3-pointer early in the second half.

A look at what makes Stiles so special and how she might fare this summer in the WNBA:

THE SKINNY ON STILES
	LIEBERMAN-CLINE SAYS
OFFENSE	Offensive game is legit; she has the full package. She can score in the open court or take it to the hole (good jump-stop and crossover), and can also be lethal from behind the 3-point arc (career 43.7 shooter from 3-point range). Stiles also has a solid mid-range jumper and can elevate over defenders. She's a phenomenal shooter who is also an efficient scorer and high-percentage shooter (for example, she scored 39 points on just 22 shots against Northern Iowa on Feb. 18). And even when she might be off, she makes sure she at least gets to the foul line (an 87.8 percent free-throw shooter, Stiles is 195-for-222 from the charity stripe). Stiles has scored in double figures in 80 consecutive games.
DEFENSE	Although she has only averaged 1.2 steals per game over her SMS career, Stiles is a good defender. However, this is something she has had to work hard on and something coach Cheryl Burnett has focused on. Now, as Stiles has continued to make a commitment to defense, she's a much tougher matchup for opponents.
STRENGTH	The 5-foot-8 guard is stronger than she might appear, and strength is something Stiles has improved on since last season. She also is very fit and tone, and in great condition (she averages 33.5 minutes a game). She's also speedy. Watch her in the open court and you can tell she's a former high school track star.
WNBA	Regardless of what school she attended, Stiles would have been a star and scorer in any conference, but Southwest Missouri State was the perfect fit for her. Playing for the Lady Bears allowed her to be the main focus of the team's offense and it also gave her time to mature and improve every facet of her her game. In time, she will be a great professional player and will keep fans on the edge of their seats. She's a definite first-round draft pick, especially for teams looking for a scorer, which isn't easy to come by. She will be an impact player for any team from the time she is assigned to a roster. I see her getting drafted in the middle of the first round.

ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman-Cline, a Hall of Famer, will break down the women's college basketball world throughout the 2000-2001 season.