OU Womens Basketball Begins Practice

Head coach Sherri Coale returns the majority of her scoring and rebounding.

Norman, Okla. The journey to the 2004 NCAA Final Four begins Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. for the Oklahoma women's basketball team as the Sooners start preseason practice inside the Lloyd Noble Center.

With a seasoned group of returning players and an elite mix of talented newcomers, including two redshirt freshmen, the Sooners are poised to return to the national spotlight this year. Under eighth-year head coach Sherri Coale, OU looks to make yet another run to the NCAA Tournament and challenge for the Big 12 Conference Championship.

In her first seven years at OU, Coale has produced 132 career wins, just 11 wins shy of becoming the Sooners' all-time winningest women's basketball coach. Maura McHugh holds this honor with 142 victories in seven years. Coale has also led OU to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, more than any other Sooner coach, and took Oklahoma to the 2002 national championship game.

A proven winner and outstanding recruiter, Coale and her staff welcome back a group of players who accounted for more than 78 percent of last year's scoring (1,686 of 2,139 points) and 69 percent of its rebounding (887 of 1,281 boards). Add to the mix the return of fifth-year senior Caton Hill, OU's only starter from the national championship runner-up team in 2002, and redshirt freshmen Erin Higgins and Casey Walker plus Coale's most complete group of newcomers and it's easy to understand why there is an air of confidence among the staff, players and Sooner fans. It also makes the fact that Lloyd Noble Center is the site of the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regional in March something that Sooner fans have circled on their calendars.

The Nucleus

When you consider OU returns three extremely talented redshirt players (two posts and a guard) and seven letterwinners, six of whom averaged at least 16 minutes per game last year, it's easy to understand why the coaches are talking about the experience of this team. The nucleus of this year's team features a somewhat young but battle tested group of players. Senior Caton Hill, who missed last season with a knee injury, is back. Junior Dionnah Jackson has added leadership to her role while senior Maria Villarroel and sophomore Chelsi Welch added international playing experience to their resume over the summer months.

Hill returns to the court with added determination to make this season her best. After being sidelined four games into last year's schedule, she's fully rehabbed from a knee injury and set for action. The Ada, Okla., native has earned all-conference honors twice and was voted to the NCAA Midwest Regional teams in 2001 and 2002. The 6-1 power forward holds the school record for most double-doubles with 29. In the three complete games she played last year, she produced a double-double in each and nearly averaged a double-double for the season (10.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg). "I expect Caton to have an amazing senior season," said Coale. "Had her senior season been played out last year, I think she would have been continually trying to make us what we were the year before. Having been removed for a year and having the opportunity to see things from a distance, to watch these young kids grow up and to have a second chance to have a senior year, she will enjoy it a little more. Obviously, from the day Caton stepped back on the court as a healthy participant, she made the four around her better. That's the kind of effect she'll have on this team."

Jackson probably gained the most from last year's injuries. It provided her the opportunity to develop into a leader for the Sooners, on and off the court. Her determination to not let Sooner tradition slide was evident as she wrapped up her sophomore season by earning All-Big 12 second team honors and ranking among the Big 12 best in six categories including first in assists/turnover ratio (2.2) and second in assists per game (5.4) against Big 12 teams. Jackson, who was one of only two players to start all 32 games last season, also contributed 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for OU.

"Last year helped Dionnah define who exactly she is," said Coale. "I don't think she knew who she was as a leader until last season was thrust upon her and it was her responsibility to figure it out. She comes into this season with an advantage and potential that she wouldn't have had otherwise."

Villarroel was named the most valuable player of the South America Tournament in Ecuador after averaging 23 points per game for the Venezuela National Team. The eight-time national team member led OU and the Big 12 Conference and ranked 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, shooting 57.6 percent. She also led the Sooners in scoring for the season, averaging 15.0 ppg. The 5-8 thin frame guard blocked a team-high 21 shots. "Maria is much more of an explosive and particularly damaging offensively player right now than she was at any time last year," said Coale. "She understands now the difference in a good shot, a better shot and a great shot. She will have some additional freedom to choose because she has a better understanding of what our goals are and what our mission is on offense."

Welch became OU's first freshman ever to earn a spot on any All-Big 12 team and just the third freshman to ever earn Big 12 honors. She was named to the second team after being voted co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The Plainview, Texas, native produced team bests of 14.2 ppg and 5.3 attempted three-pointers per game against conference opponents. Welch also was chosen as one of 12 players who played on the Big 12 All-Stars team which represented the United States at the 2003 World University Games in South Korea.

"International experience is always valuable because it allows those players to see different competition, different levels of basketball and it provides them a different experience under a different coach and with different teammates," said Coale. "Both Maria and Chelsi got the opportunity to experience that and will perform better for it. I think the greatest thing you take out of international competition is that you come home with a greater appreciation of who you play for, who you play with and where you play."

Sophomore Beky Preston could possibly team up with Hill to wreak havoc in the lane for Sooner opponents. Preston returns to the court this season with added confidence and additional post moves. She came on strong at the end of last season and continued to develop and improve during the offseason. Preston has added an array of low post moves. She played in 30 games and started 15 for OU last season. The Albuquerque, N.M., native shot 48.6 percent from the field and contributed 4.5 caroms and 4.1 points per game. "Beky gets better every single day," said Coale. "She was one of those kids who was thrown to the wolves as a freshman out of necessity and she had to make her mistakes out there with the lights on. That was hard on her confidence. She has bounced back from that and is playing with a great deal of confidence and pride right now, and that is probably the biggest difference. When you get confidence, you improve and develop at an even faster rate. As you improve, you continue to get more confidence. It's a wonderful snowball that starts rolling in the right direction."

A talented lefty who can be a fierce defender and shooter, Lauren Shoush provided an emotional lift several times throughout the year, as a starter in eight games and off of the bench in 17 contests. Her contributions to the team are demonstrated by the fact that her scoring average went from 2.8 points off the bench to almost 6.0 points per game as a starter.

Oklahoma also has two young, yet experienced, players who will provide great depth and presence in sophomores Laura Andrews and Antoinette Wadsworth. Andrews proved she could be an offensive threat as she nailed a career-high five three-pointers and scored 21 points against Baylor in Waco. She also had 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Wadsworth is an extremely athletic player who continues to improve. The returning letterwinner played in 24 games last season and showed what she could do on the court during the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic and Big 12 Tournament play.

redshirt freshmen

OU also welcomes back redshirt freshmen phenoms Erin Higgins and Casey Walker. Higgins, along with Hill, was sidelined with an ACL injury on Nov. 26, 'Black Tuesday' as it's known around the women's basketball program. In her first collegiate outing, she scored a career-best 18 points en route to hitting a personal-best four three-pointers against NCAA runner-up Tennessee (N10). Higgins also missed the end of her senior season in high school with the same injury, but in the opposite knee.

Walker suffered her knee injury in July 2002. Since then, she has become a much stronger player and valuable assest to the Sooner post position.

"Erin and Casey enter this season with a greater appreciation for their time on the basketball court," Coale said. "The most important thing they learned from last season is how precious their time is and to enjoy even the hard days, even the stuff that's not very much fun."

The Newcomers

The impact of Coale's freshman unit is yet to be seen but great things are expected from Higgins and Walker as well as true freshmen Britney Brown, Kendra Moore, Leah Rush and Krista Sanchez. The Sooners added two guards and two post players which make this year's team Coale's deepest in her Sooner tenure.

"This could be the most complete group we have ever signed in terms of what they can provide us," Coale said. "At the post, we get Leah (Rush) and Krista (Sanchez) who are about the same size but bring completely different gifts to the table. Then we have Britney (Brown) and Kendra (Moore) who are solid point guards. This group is closer to being able to compete early in their freshmen year than any group I've had before."

Rush and Sanchez enter their rookie season as high school All-Americans. Rush, a native of Amarillo, Texas, was a Street and Smith's High School All-America honorable mention pick as a junior and senior as well as a two-time TABC and Texas Sports Writers All-State pick. She concluded her senior season ranked among the top 25 high school post players in the country. Rush's grit, ability to rebound and post up will assist the Sooners at that position.

As a participant in the 2002 Nike Camp, Sanchez is a proven offensive threat on any team. She demonstrated that fact during an AAU playoff game this past summer when she scorched a team for 52 points. The Springdale, Ark., native received high school All-America accolades from the WBCA, National Women's Basketball Service and Street & Smith's (honorable mention) at the conclusion of her prep career. Sanchez possesses a great savvy about her in terms of understanding how to play and having a feel for the game, especially in transition.

"The greatest skill that both players bring to our program is that they are quick learners and seem to be able to apply what they are taught to the game," Coale said.

At the point guard position, Coale is extremely proud to have signed two of Oklahoma's top guards in Moore and Brown. Brown comes to OU from Norman North High, while Moore, who commited to the Sooners as a junior, is from Ardmore.

Moore missed her senior season due to an ACL injury that occurred during Sooner Sessions team camp in July, 2002. This 5-5 guard has extremely quick feet and hands and will rely a great deal on her speed to impact OU's defensive pressure. She has also proven the ability to score from the wing and is not afraid to drive the lane in spite of her small frame.

Brown was Coale's last signee for the 2003-04 season. She and Moore inherit a tough task as incoming freshmen point guards. Brown is a well-rounded guard who has the ability to cause opponents a lot of problems defensively with her speed and scrappiness. She brings a tremendous amount of comfort to this position. Coale described Brown as a player who just makes everything work and takes care of her responsibilities on and off the court.

This group of true freshmen bring a great deal of versatility and power to an already established program and make OU's return to the national spotlight a real possibility.

The Schedule

Oklahoma wastes little time in getting the 2003-04 season underway. The Sooners will play a pair of exhibition games on Nov. 13 (Basketball Travelers) and Nov. 18 (Oklahoma Christian) before tipping off the regular season by hosting the Bertha Teague Classic inside the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. "We are really excited about hosting the Bertha Frank Teague Classic at the Ford Center," said Coale. "The event offers a unique opportunity for women's basketball fans to watch all four state Division I programs compete in a state-of-the-art facility.

"Additionally, this event provides us with an opportunity to continue to honor the legacy of Mrs. Teague. Sometimes, I think she's more famous outside the boundaries of our state than she is within it. The Bertha Frank Teague Classic is a great way to remind our players of our state's rich women's basketball heritage and about the road that was paved for them in large part because of Mrs. Teague's pioneering efforts."

The Sooners' first true home game will be Monday, Nov. 24, against Southeast Missouri State, a team OU defeated 87-59, a year ago. OU's first road trip takes the Sooners to Malibu, Calif., over Thanksgiving weekend. OU will be one of four teams competing in the Pepperdine Tournament on Nov. 28-29. Others are Siena, UC-Riverside and host Pepperdine.

Highlighting OU's non-conference home schedule will be national powerhouse Tennessee and Hall-of-Fame coach Pat Summit. The Lady Vols travel to Norman on Sunday, Dec. 21, for a nationally televised game on ESPN2.

"Tennessee is obviously our pre-conference marquee game, mainly, because of their tradition and visibility," said Coale. "They have a national reputation and are coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances. They are as talented as any team in the country. I'm glad we're playing them again and I'm glad it's a little deeper in our schedule. We will use this game to gauge our team heading into the Big 12 season. We'll know a whole lot more about our basketball team after that game."

The Big 12 Conference North opponents that will travel to the Lloyd Noble Center are Nebraska (Jan. 7), Kansas (Feb. 14) and Colorado (Feb. 18). The Kansas contest will be televised by Fox Sports Network along with home games against Texas A&M (Feb. 7) and Texas (March 2). The Bedlam matchup in Stillwater will also be carried live by FSN. Matching the number of games it broadcast a year ago will be OU's Sooner Sports Network. SSN will air three road and two home games. Road games include Texas (Jan. 10), Texas Tech (Feb. 10) and Kansas State (Jan. 31). The home games will be against OSU (Jan. 17) and Colorado.

"One Big 12 season turns into another because it's the same story every night," replied Coale. "It doesn't matter if you're the No. 1 team or the No. 12 team in this league. If you don't play really well, you won't win. We play in the best conference in America so going into league play we know we have to compete every night."

NCAA Midwest Regional

The University of Oklahoma and the women's basketball program was awarded the NCAA Midwest Regional for March 28 and 30 at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. This is a first for the program and the state in regards to women's basketball.

"This is a tremendous honor for the University of Oklahoma and our program to be selected as a host site for an NCAA Championship event," Coale said.

"We are going to do everything in our power to be in a position to come back and play on our home court because at that point it's a tremendous competitive advantage. There wouldn't be anything more special than to know you earned the right to go to the Final Four on your home court and in front of your family, friends and fans."

-OU-

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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