Women's Basketball Preseason Pick To Finish Fourth In The Big 12

Norman, Okla. The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the preseason Big 12 Conference Coaches poll released Wednesday by the league office and voted upon by the conference coaches (coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players). OU senior Caton Hill received votes for the preseason All-Big 12 team. Hill earned All-Big 12 second team honors in 2001 and third team merits in 2002. The Ada, Okla., native was also voted to the 2001 and 2002 NCAA All-West Regional teams. She returns to the Sooner program after an ACL injury sidelined the power forward four games into the 2002-03 campaign.

Texas, who advanced to the semifinals of the 2003 Final Four, was picked to win its second straight Big 12 title. The Longhorns received 10 of 12 first place votes for 120 points. Kansas State, who finished second in last year's conference race, was picked to finish second again with 111 points and two first place votes. Texas Tech was chosen third with 99 points, followed by OU with 87. Colorado is a preseason pick to finish fifth (81), while Baylor (72), Missouri (55), Iowa State (53), Kansas (40), Oklahoma State (35), Nebraska (20) and Texas A&M (19) rounds out the preseason rankings.

The preseason top five picks all represented the Big 12 in the 2003 NCAA Tournament with Texas Tech joining Texas in the Elite Eight and Colorado advancing to the Sweet 16. Baylor and Missouri competed in last year's WNIT with Missouri advancing to the third round and Baylor winning its way to the championship game.

Kansas State's Nicole Ohlde was chosen Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year for the second straight year. The 6-4 senior forward/center was Big 12 Player of the Year last year and a consensus All-America. Ohlde is joined on the preseason All-Big 12 team by her teammate Kendra Wecker, Texas' Stacy Stephens and Heather Schreiber, and Texas Tech's Jia Perkins. All four were first team all-conference selections at the conclusion of the 2003 season.

Oklahoma State's Elizangela Gomes was named preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The 6-4 junior center is a transfer from Eastern Oklahoma College who averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as a sophomore. Gomes was a second team All-America and first team all-conference selection while being named Region II MVP.

Texas' Tiffany Jackson was selected preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The 6-3 freshman forward from Duncanville High School in Dallas was a consensus first team All-America as a senior while averaging 16.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 3.2 spg. She was also WBCA/State Farm and Chevrolet National High School Player of the Year.

The Big 12 kicks off the 2003-04 campaign with its annual Basketball Media Days on Oct. 29 and 30 in Dallas. Women's Media Day will be Wednesday, Oct. 29 followed by the men on Thursday, Oct. 30.

Oklahoma will play two exhibition games (Nov. 13 & Nov. 18) before hosting the Bertha Teague Classic in Oklahoma City at the Ford Center. Tulsa, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma State and OU will participate in the one day event starting at 12 p.m.

2003-04 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll

1. Texas (10) 120

2. Kansas State (2) 111

3. Texas Tech 99

4. Oklahoma 87

5. Colorado 81

6. Baylor 72

7. Missouri 55

8. Iowa State 53

9. Kansas 40

10. Oklahoma State 35

11. Nebraska 20

12. Texas A&M` 19

(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for own team)

2003-04 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Team

(coaches not allowed to vote for own players)

Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State

Kendra Wecker, Kansas State

Stacy Stephens, Texas

Heather Schreiber, Texas

Jia Perkins, Texas Tech

(Others Receiving Votes: Jamie Carey, Texas; Caton Hill, Oklahoma; Tera Bjorklund, Colorado; Erin Grant, Texas Tech; Sophie Young, Baylor; Evan Unrau, Missouri)

Preseason Player of the Year:

Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State

Preseason Newcomer of the Year:

Elizangela Gomes, Oklahoma State

Preseason Freshman of the Year:

Tiffany Jackson, Texas