When the lights go out, the searchlights flash and AC/DC’s Back in Black starts blaring from the speakers above the scoreboard, every fan in Mizzou Arena knows what’s coming next: Missouri women’s basketball is in the building. The Tigers are ready for action.

Leading the charge for every game is none other than the explosive combination of senior forwards Christine Flores and BreAnna Brock.

After the departure of 12-year coach Cindy Stein in 2010, Robin Pingeton took over, and though her first season wasn’t perfect (12-15 in 2010-11), there were signs the program was successfully rebuilding its foundation.

Midway through this season, the Tigers are at 10-6, and their early-season success can be traced back to Flores and Brock.

**Dominating the stats**

It’s nearly impossible to look at the Tigers’ statistics for this season and not see both Flores and Brock at the top of the board. Of the 16 games this season, Brock and Flores have been the leaders in scoring and rebounding in all but two. They have a combined 563 points, both averaging more than 15 points per game.

“I know that they understand that they need to be consistent for a chance for us to be in games,” Pingeton said. “They have really done a tremendous job for us and with that. They have come a long way.”

Brock is currently leading the team in rebounds, field goal percentage and field goals made, and Flores leads in points, steals and blocked shots. The two combine for six combined double-double games (including Flores’ triple-double against Eastern Illinois) and eleven 20-point games.

Both players rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference in nine different categories. Nationally, Flores is No. 6 in blocks and No. 26 in scoring and Brock ranks No. 20 in blocks and No. 31 in field goal percentage.

“When you have two post players that can consistently play well and play together, it opens up three-point shots for one of the best three-point shooters in the nation (teammate Morgan Eye),” Flores said. “We need three-point shots, and when we can play consistently inside, it is going to open up those shots.”

In short, these two seniors have been as successful on the court as they have been leading their teammates off it.

That leadership was on full display when the Tigers hosted Eastern Illinois back in early December. The Tigers trailed the Panthers for 36 of the 40 minutes of play, at one point by as many as 15 points. But Flores was able to rally the team and score the team’s final 8 points (25 points in total, along with 14 rebounds and 10 blocks) as the Tigers pulled off a 56-54 win.

The duo’s dominance shined during winter break when the Evansville Purple Aces came to Columbia. Thanks to 50 combined points along with leading the team in rebounds, steals and blocks, Flores and Brock led the Tigers to a 74-51 victory.

**High school history**

The history between Flores and Brock can be traced back to their high school days. The two faced off in the 2007 Texas 5A Regional Championship, with Flores at Winston Churchill High School and Brock at Wagner High School. Flores ended up the victorious one, not knowing she had just beaten someone who would be her teammate five years later.

When the two both enrolled at MU two years later, neither was very welcoming to the other because of the high school rivalry.

“Coach P. worked on our relationship since we got here,” Flores said. “It’s done nothing but help us out, she has worked so hard and deserves all the credit. (It’s) gotten a lot better over the years. It’s only getting better. (It) helps out to have that chemistry of knowing each other’s moves. Its easier to play with each other. I would consider her one of my close friends.”

Brock said she views the relationship the same way.

“We just knew each other as opponents back then,” Brock said. “Now we’re teammates.”

Pingeton has encouraged both to work together on the court.

“I think they both just have toughness to them and their relationship has continued to grow,” Pingeton said. “I think they respect each other. You know they both bring something completely different to the court for us with their skill set.”

**Leading the charge**

From the start of the season, it has been apparent that Brock and Flores would be leading the younger talent.

“Just from a leadership standpoint, Christine (and I) have all worked on that and just learned that it is not going to be the seniors that are going to be the mouth,” Brock said. “Everyone is going to work together and it comes collectively that we have to say, ‘Hey, keep your head up,’ because if we let one person come down, the whole team is going to come down.”

Although Brock and Flores both lead the team, their leadership styles are different. But that appears to be just what the team needs.

“But I’m not just here for myself,” Flores said. “I’m here for my teammates.”