Sooners Travel To Kansas State

Feb. 21, 2000

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GAME #27
#18/20 Oklahoma (20-6, 10-3)
at Kansas State (12-14, 5-8)

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000
Arena: Bramlage Coliseum (13,500)
Radio: KOMA (1520 AM)- Live
Internet: www.soonersports.com Live
TV: None

THE GAME

Tonight is Oklahoma's final regular season road contest of the 1999-2000 campaign. The Sooners, ranked No. 18 in the AP poll and 20th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, enter the game in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 Conference with a league record of 10-3 and overall mark of 20-6. Kansas State stands at 12-14 overall and 5-8 in the league (9th).

The game is set to be played at the Bramlage Coliseum (13,500 capacity), Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The game with K-State will be carried live on the Sooner Basketball Radio Network (KOMA 1520AM) with James Hale (play-by-play) and Jenny Bramer (analyst) announcing.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Oklahoma (20-6, 10-3) looks to regain the lead in the Big 12 Conference on a temporary basis Tuesday as co-leaders Iowa State hosts Texas A&M, Texas Tech travels to Texas and Kansas is at Missouri on Wednesday. OU is in a four-way tie for first place with Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas. Each school has an identical 10-3 league record.

For the first time this season, the Sooners are riding a two-game losing streak and have lost three of their last four games. Oklahoma has three games remaining on its regular season schedule. After Tuesday's game OU wraps up its home schedule with Kansas on Saturday, Feb. 26, and Oklahoma State on Wednesday, March 1.

In league games, OU tops the conference in scoring, averaging 80.1 points a game, free throw percentage (.753), field goal percentage (.491), rebounding defense (32.8), assist/turnover ratio (+1.08), and assists (19.46). Senior Phylesha Whaley is the top scorer in the Big 12 in conference games, averaging 21.8 points a game. She also tops the league in three-point field goal percentage, hitting .600 percent (18-of-30). Sophomore LaNeishea Caufield is the league leader in steals, pocketing 3.62 a try. Sophomore Stacey Dales ranks third in assists with 5.38 a game. Caufield's 13-of-13 free throw performance (1.000) against Texas Tech ranks as the league's second best individual performance from the charity line this season.

LEADING THE SOONERS

Senior Phylesha Whaley (Slaton, Texas) has been OU's leading scorer in 15 of the team's 26 games, including eight of 13 games against Big 12 schools. Whaley promotes her worthiness of All-America honors with her 20.2 points and 8.0 rebounds a game. She has unleashed 20-plus points against 13 teams, including a season-best 31 against Texas, and recorded double-digit scoring in all 26 games this season.

Whaley's supporting cast includes sophomore sensations LaNeishea Caufield and Stacey Dales. Caufield (Ada, Okla.) is good for 14.4 points and a team-best 3.0 steals per game, while Dales (Brockville, Ontario, Canada) adds a team- and Big 12 Conference-best 6.0 assists and 13.1 points per try.

Freshman Caton Hill (Ada, Okla.) is one of the top newcomers in the league and probably the most consistent rookie among the Big 12 schools. Hill contributes 9.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.9 assists and shoots 50 percent from the field and 68 percent from the foul line.

Oklahoma also gets solid numbers from its bench as freshman guard Jadrea Seeley (Bethel, Okla.) averages 8.2 points and shoots 51.4 percent from the field percentage. Junior Desiree Taylor is strong for OU on the boards with 3.0 and she adds 5.0 points a game.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE

Deb Patterson and the Kansas State Wildcats head into the week with a 12-14 overall mark and a 5-8 Big 12 Conference record. K-State has won three of its last four games, a reverse of OU's streak, but had lost five consecutive games prior to an 71-64 victory over Oklahoma State on Feb. 9 in Stillwater, Okla.

Kansas State also picked up league wins over Iowa State (69-63), Colorado (62-54), Baylor (73-58) and Texas A&M (67-62).

The Wildcats have used at least five different lineups this season and are 1-5 against teams ranked in the top 25.

Kansas State is led by a pair of senior veterans in Nicky Ramage and Angie Finkes. Ramage, a forward, leads the Wildcats in scoring with 13.5 points per game. Finkes, a center, contributes 13.0 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds a game. Ramage ranks second on the squad in rebounds with six a game.

KSU is averaging 64.8 points and 38.1 rebounds a game.

Patterson is in her fourth year at Kansas State and boasts an overall and K-State career record of 57-59. She is a 1979 graduate of Rockford (Ill.) College. Her teams have beaten 13 teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the major polls, including eight wins over top 25 teams. KSU has beaten nine of those teams at home since Patterson took over, including a huge upset over Iowa State, 69-63, this year.

Probable Starters

Oklahoma

Pos.	No.	Players	Ht.	Yr.	GP-GS	PPG	RPG	Others
F	34	Phylesha Whaley	5-10	Sr.	26-26	20.2	8.0	1st in ppg & rpg
F	10	Caton Hill	6-1	Fr.	26-26	9.9	7.3	1st in def. rebs.
G	20	LaNeishea Caufield	5-9	So.	26-26	14.4	4.8	3.1 spg
G	21	Stacey Dales	6-0	So.	26-26	13.1	5.2	6.0 apg
G	13	Sunny Hardeman	5-7	Jr.	26-23	4.6	1.9	3.5 apg

Off the bench (listed numerically)

Pos.	No.	Players	Ht.	Yr.	GP-GS	PPG	RPG
C	00	Desiree Taylor	6-1	Jr.	26-3	5.0	3.0
G	23	Jadrea Seeley	6-2	Fr.	26-0	8.2	1.8

Kansas State

Pos.	No.	Players	Ht.	Yr.	GP-GS	PPG	RPG
F	45	Nikky Ramage	6-1	Sr.	26-26	13.5	6.0
F	12	Kristin Rethamn	5-9	So.	26-16	9.4	4.2
C	42	Angie Finkes	6-1	Sr.	26-24	13.0	6.4
G	21	Kim Woodlee	5-8	Sr.	26-23	9.6	4.6
G	50	Morgen Finneran	5-10	Jr.	26-4	1.6	1.3

Off the bench (listed numerically)

Pos.	No.	Players	Ht.	Yr.	GP-GS	PPG	RPG
C	05	Olga Firsova	6-6	Sr.	26-2	8.8	5.7
G	14	April Sailors	5-5	Jr.	26-22	6.3	2.4

TEAM COMPARISONS

OVERALL GAMES

OU	CATEGORY	KSU
20-6	Records	12-14
79.5	Points	64.8
39.3	Rebounds	38.1
.486	FG%	.432
.354	3pt. FG%	.368
.746	FT%	.693
19.2	Assists	16.1
10.5	Steals	4.9
18.6	Turnovers	18.5

BIG 12 GAMES

OU	CATEGORY	KSU
10-3	Records	5-8
80.1	Points	60.5
38.6	Rebounds	34.8
.491	FG%	.416
.384	3pt. FG%	.363
.753	FT%	.724
19.5	Assists	14.6
10.0	Steals	4.6
18.1	Turnovers	18.9

THE SERIES

Kansas State leads the all-time series by a slim 21-17 edge. KSU is 10-6 when playing Oklahoma in Manhattan. The series is tied at two under OU's Head Coach Sherri Coale.

The Sooners have won the last two games by an average of 11.5 points. Last year, OU handed K-State a 79-58 loss after escaping Manhattan with a 69-67 win in 1998.

Oklahoma's 21-point margin of victory over Kansas State last year was the Sooners' second largest over a Big 12 opponent last year. OU defeated Texas A&M by 26 points, 95-69, during the 1998-99 season.

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State

Year-by-Year Recap

Year	Result	Site
1976	L, 90-27	Manhattan
1978	W, 67-61	Lawrence
1980	L, 96-73	Manhattan
1983	L, 86-74	Norman
1983	L, 87-63	Norman
1984	L, 88-70	Manhattan
1984	L, 71-61	Norman
1984	L, 69-67	Kansas City
1985	W, 92-85	Norman
1985	L, 90-75	Manhattan
1986	W, 83-72	Manhattan
1986	W, 94-77	Norman
1987	W, 70-47	Norman
1987	L, 80-69	Manhattan
1987	L, 79-64	Salina
1988	W, 96-65	Manhattan
1988	W, 79-61	Norman
1989	L, 84-83	Norman
1989	L, 64-60	Manhattan
1990	L, 94-87	Norman
1990	L, 92-88	Manhattan
1991	L, 86-75	Manhattan
1991	W, 88-56	Norman
1992	L, 91-86	Norman
1992	W, 88-73	Manhattan
1993	W, 68-60	Norman
1993	W, 87-65	Manhattan
1994	L, 72-54	Manhattan
1994	L, 71-70	Norman
1995	W, 79-70	Manhattan
1995	W, 71-60	Norman
1996	L, 80-67*	Manhattan
1996	W, 62-54	Norman
1997	L, 49-47	Norman
1997	L, 81-56	Kansas City
1998	W, 69-67	Manhattan
1999	W, 79-58	Norman

WHALEY REWRITES RECORD BOOKS

With senior Phylesha Whaley's start against Kansas State, the post player becomes Oklahoma's all-time record holder for most games started with 110. The Slaton, Texas, native is now the career record holder in eight OU categories.

GRANBURY CONNECTION

Both Kansas State and Oklahoma have a player from Gransbury, Texas. OU's Emily Britt is a 1999 graduate and KSU's Morgen Finneran is a 1997 graduate of Granbury High School. Finneran has earned a starting position among the K-State lineup in four games, while Britt has seen action in 11 of OU's games this season.

NEXT UP

Oklahoma's final two regular season games will be at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman against Kansas (Feb. 26) and Oklahoma State (March 1).

INJURY REPORT

OU is injury free heading into the game.

WHALEY - SHOULD BE THE BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Senior Phylesha Whaley has taken the Oklahoma Sooners to the national spotlight this year. She has carried OU for the past four years in scoring and the last three seasons in rebounding. The Slaton, Texas, native has ranked among the nation's best in points per game the last two years and is a two-time All-Big 12 first team selection.

In conference games, she leads the league in scoring (21.8 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (.600)
Is the only player in the Big 12 Conference (league games) to rank among the top five in scoring (21.8), rebounding (8.2), defensive boards (5.38), field goal percentage (.565) and three-point percentage (.600)
Boasts three double-doubles in league play and eight double doubles on the season
Has had 12 20-plus scoring performances
Has started 109 of 109 games played
Is the only player out of the Big 12 top Player of the Year candidates (Whaley, Stacy Frese, Lynn Pride, Edwina Brown) to have scored in double digits each game she has played in and is tied with Brown for second with the most overall double doubles (8)
Averages 33.5 minutes per game
Has led the team in scoring 15 times, including 13 games where she's recorded 20- plus points and rebounding 12 times
Named the Bertha Teague Classic Most Valuable Player and selected to the Hawaiian Regent Classic All-Tournament team this season
Has not scored less than 15 points in a Big 12 game this season
Ranks second on the school's career scoring (2,025) and rebounding (840) charts

TEXAS TECH RECAP

Texas Tech's Keitha Dickerson scored 23 points and freshman Plenette Pierson added 18 as 12th-ranked Texas Tech outlasted No. 18 Oklahoma, 86-81, to pull into a tie for first place with the Sooners in the Big 12 Conference.

After Texas Tech (21-3, 10-3 Big 12) opened a 42-29 lead on Pierson's jumper with 18:26 remaining, Oklahoma went up 52-50 on a jumper by Stacey Dales with 13:15 to play.

However, the Lady Raiders responded with a 12-2 spurt, building a 62-54 advantage on Pierson's basket with 9:20 to go. Oklahoma got no closer than 83-79 on LaNeishea Caufield's two free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

Caufield scored 29 points and Dales added 22 for Oklahoma (20-6, 10-3), which has dropped two straight and three of its last four.

Caufield was 8-of-14 from the field and hit all 13 of her foul shots, while Dales erupted for 16 points in the second half.

"I thought they (Texas Tech) did a tremendous job scoring in the paint. It was more physical than I expected it to be. It was just very, very physical," said OU Head Coach Sherri Coale.

Aleah Johnson, Melinda Pharles and Katrisa O'Neal all scored 12 points for Texas Tech, which avenged an 82-76 loss at Oklahoma on January 8.

Oklahoma was held to a season-low 27 rebounds and called for a seaosn-high 28 personal fouls. Texas Tech made and attempted a season-high 26 of 36 free throws for an OU opponent this year.

CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE HILL

Oklahoma's Caton Hill, a candidate for the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year award, could be considered one of the most consistent and steady rookies in the league. The Ada, Okla., native may not have had large scoring performances but the power forward has the numbers to prove she's the most well-rounded freshman in the league. She contributes 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She also shoots nearly 50 percent from the field (102-of-206) and has had 16 games where she's nailed more than half her shots.

In conference games, Hill ranks fourth in defensive rebounds (5.46/g), seventh in total boards (7.9/g) and is tied for fourth with most double doubles (3). Overall, she has produced five double doubles, more than any other true freshman in the league, and scored 10-plus points 13 times, six against teams in the Big 12.

Defensively, she's battled for 10 or more rebounds in seven games, including career highs of 13 boards and 20 points against Texas. Hill has also pocketed four plus steals in four different games, including a career-high nine against Tulsa.

The 6-1 foward was named to the Bertha Teague Classic All-Tournament team in December.

HALF THE KEY

Oklahoma has not lost a game when leading at halftime. The Sooners boast an 18-0 mark when ahead at intermission.

WHALEY RECORDS 2000TH CAREER POINT

Senior All-America candidate Phylesha Whaley (Slaton, Texas) scored a season-high 31 points to earn her 2000th career point against Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Whaley is 123 points shy of becoming OU's all-time scorer. She currently has 2,025 and looks to pass Sooner great Molly McGurie who has 2,148 career points.

OU TOPS THE BIG 12

In Big 12 Conference games, OU leads the league in scoring (80.1), field goal percentage (.491), free throw percentage (.753), rebounding defense, allowing its opponents only 32.8 defensive boards, assists (19.46) and assists/turnover ratio (1.08). The Sooners also rank third in rebounding margin (+5.8) and defensive rebounds, grabbing 26.46 a game.

The most impressive stats are the Sooners' assists/turnover ratio and assists per game rankings. Just a year ago, OU ended the season ranked 12th (0.67) in assists/turnover ratio and 10th in assists (13.31).

DISHING IT OUT

OU sophomore guard Stacey Dales is tied for second on OU's single season assists chart with 156. Holding the top single season record for OU in this category is Sharee Mitchum, who dished out 242 assists during the 1993-94 season.

Dales is 87 assists shy of Mitchum's single season record.

POCKET PICKING

Sophomore LaNeishea Caufield has pocketed 81 steals this season. The Ada, Okla., native is just 29 steals shy of becoming Oklahoma's all-time best for most thefts in a single season.

WHALEY'S NOW NO. 2 IN CAREER POINTS AND REBOUNDS

Senior Phylesha Whaley currently ranks second on the school's all-time lists in scoring and rebounding. The 5-10 forward opened the year ranked third in scoring, eighth in rebounding and among the top 12 in 10 other categories.

Whaley has now become the school's all-time leader in six categories: field goals attempted, free throws attempted, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, consecutive games started and minutes played. She owns 2,025 career points and 840 career rebounds.

Former Sooner great Molly McGuire holds both records with 2,147 points and 1,071 boards.

FEBRUARY POSES A TEST

February has been a tough task for the Sooners. Four of the six teams that OU has played this month were ranked in the upper division of the conference. So far, OU has posted a 3-3 record in February, defeating Baylor, Oklahoma State and Nebraska and losing to Iowa State, Texas Tech and Texas.

ONLY OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma became the first team in the Big 12 Conference to open league play with nine consecutive wins.

CAUFIELD CLIMBING CHARTS

Sophomore LaNeishea Caufield currently appears among OU's single season best in four categories. The Ada, Okla., native ranks second in free throw percentage, shooting 82.9 percent, fifth in free throws made (131) and steals (81) and eighth in free throws attempted (158).

As a freshman, she set the school single season record for most made (183) and attempted (227) free throws.

TAKING NOTE

In the 13 games that Oklahoma has played in the Big 12 Conference this season, OU boasts a 9.2 point margin of victory. OU's biggest wins were 28-point victories at home against Texas A&M and Baylor. The Sooners have handed five league opponents 20-plus point losses.

WHALEY EARNS CONFERENCE HONORS

Senior Phylesha Whaley has been named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week twice this season, marking the ninth time the power forward has earned this honor in her four-year career.

Whaley earned her second player-of-week honor in three weeks on Monday, Feb. 7, after OU defeated Baylor and Nebraska. Between the two games, she averaged 23 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Whaley averaged 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, two steals and shot 50 percent from the field against Colorado and Texas to earn her first player of the week award on Jan. 24.

DALES TOPS THE CONFERENCE

Sophomore Stacey Dales currently leads the Big 12 Conference in assists with 6.0 a game. She also ranks third in assists/turnover ratio (1.68), ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.378) and 18th in scoring (13.1 ppg).

A year ago, Dales finished the season ranked fifth in assists and 13th in assists/turnover ratio.

CAUFIELD AUTOMATIC

Sophomore LaNeishea Caufield (Ada, Okla.) is automatic when placed on the free throw line in the final minutes of the game. The 5-9 guard has connected on 23-of-24 attempted foul shots within the last two minutes of action. On the season, she has connected on 131-of-158 foul shots for 82.9 accuracy.

IT'S ALL-ACADEMIC

Eight women's basketball players were honored at halftime of the men's OU-Texas game, a game that was a part of Big Monday basketball on ESPN. Players who were honored earned a grade point average of 3.0-or-better for the fall semester. Honorees included: Jennifer Cunningham, Shannon Selmon, Angye Tilley, Stephaine Simon, Phylesha Whaley, Jamie Mayer, Stacey Dales and Caton Hill.

SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS

Three players are currently climbing OU's single season record charts in 13 categories. Leading the way is senior forward Phylesha Whaley. Whaley, who already ranks among OU's single season greats in several areas, appears among OU's top 15 in seven categories this year. Sophomores LaNeishea Caufield and Stacey Dales rank among the top-15 in four and three categories, respectively. To the right, is a chart of OU's single season chart chasers.

Single Season Record Chasers

Phylesha Whaley

Current Rank	Current Athlete	Total	Record
1st	3-FG%	.600	.529
2nd	Scoring Average	20.2	20.6
6th	FT%	.811	.831
6th	Offensive Rebounds	82	126
12th	FG%	.535	.615
13th	Defensive Rebounds	127	159
16th	Rebounding Avg.	8.0	12.9

LaNeishea Caufield

Current Rank	Current Athlete	Total	Record
2nd	FT%	.829	.831
5th	FTM	131	183
5th	Steals	81	109
8th	FTA	158	227

Stacey Dales

Current Rank	Current Athlete	Total	Record
t2nd	Assists	156	242
9th	3-FG%	.378	.529
14th	3-FGM	34	87

ATTENDANCE IS RISING

Oklahoma's home average attendance of 2,547 fans ranks 30th in the nation according to an unofficial home attendance chart complied weekly by the Wisconsin-Madison Women's Sports Information Office. The 33,108 fans who have already witnessed the excitement of OU women's basketball this season surpasses last year's season total of 20,257. The Sooners are 11-2 when playing at home.

RPI RANKINGS

In the latest Collegiate Basketball News Women's RPI Rankings, the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team is ranked 10th in the country. (as of Feb. 13)

The Sooners have the highest RPI of teams in the Big 12 Conference, followed by Texas Tech at No. 12.

The Ranking Percentage Index (RPI) is used by the NCAA women's basketball committee to supplement the selection of at-large teams for the NCAA Tournament. The RPI is derived from three component factors: Division I winning percentage (25%), schedule strength (50%) and opponent's schedule strength (25%). Games against non-Division I opponents are not used in calculation of the RPI.

CRIMSON CLIPS

Oklahoma's 9-0 run to open the Big 12 Conference schedule is a league best.
Oklahoma has lost three of its last four games.
The Sooners are 1-3 against ranked-opponents. OU lost the Arizona, Texas Tech and Connecticut and defeated Texas Tech in Norman.
Oklahoma is 5-3 in televised games.
Oklahoma was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 Conference Coaches and Media polls.
The last time that Oklahoma's men's and women's basketball programs were ranked at the same time was during the 1994-95 season.
Oklahoma assistant coach Kristi Hayes resigned Monday, Feb. 1. Hayes, who had been with the program for seven months, cited her mother's illness as the reason for leaving the nationally-ranked Sooners.
OU matched its second longest winning streak in school history at 10 games. The 1984-85 squad also accomplished this mark. The 1983-84 team holds the school record with 11 consecutive victories.
Oklahoma set a record for the largest crowd to ever witness a women's sporting event in the state of Oklahoma when 10,713 fans watched the Connecticut game on Dec. 29. OU also set its fourth highest attendance figure of 5,512 against Colorado on Jan. 22. The 3,031 fans that watched OU thump Nebraska was the 15th largest crowd inside the Lloyd Noble Center.
OU's 45-point margin of victory over San Diego State on Dec. 21 was the ninth largest in school history.
Junior Desiree Taylor now ranks among OU's best in offensive rebounds with 124, ranking her 14th on the all-time list.
Junior Sunny Hardeman has moved from 13th to 10th on OU's all-time three-pointers made chart with 65. Hardeman has hit 30 this year, surpassing her previous season high of 22 set as a freshman in 1997-98.
Oklahoma became the first squad in OU women's basketball history to go undefeated in the month of January (8-0).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Probable Starters

TEAM COMPARISONS

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State

Single Season Record Chasers

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