Stiles broke her wrist as a sophomore at Claflin (Kan.) High and began a routine she still employs. She make 1,000 shots a day--500 free throws, 500 jump shots.

"I can't get her out of the gym," SMSU coach Cheryl Burnett says. "She's in there after they've locked the building. I have to threaten her."

Her shooting obsession is paying off: Stiles leads her team in scoring (20 ppg). And SMSU won its first seven, with victories over Top 25 foes Illinois (77-62) and Arkansas (79-67).

Recruiting analyst Joe Smith says Stiles is the best freshman in the country, better than anyone in Tennessee's top-ranked recruiting class.

Numberous schools wanted her, but Stiles opted for the Springfield, Mo., program, a 6 1/2-hour drive from Claflin. Her signing was a milestone of sorts for the program, which went to the Final Four in 1992 but fell out of the rankings after injuries took their toll.

This fall, her preseason routine was four times a week with 1,000 shots, an hour of ballhandling work, regular practice (sometimes four hours long) and pickup games with the guys.

"In preseason, I went crazy," Stiles says. "I had to back off my workouts. (Burnett said), 'You don't understand the college schedule, how tough it can become.'"