Top 25 Women's Basketball Action Sunday at 2 p.m.

MEDIA INFORMATION
No. 16/17 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0)
vs. No. 19/23 Utah Utes (5-1)

Date & Time: Sunday, Dec. 7, @ 2 p.m.

Site: Lloyd Noble Center (12,000) - Norman

Series Record: OU leads 1-0.

Tickets: Still available by calling the OU Ticket Office (405-325-2424).

Radio: All Oklahoma games are broadcast live on KOMA-AM (1520) in the Oklahoma City area with Brian Brinkley (play-by-play) and Tara Robinett (color analyst). These broadcasts also are available through the OU athletics web site.

TV: none

Real-Time Stats: Live in-game statistics are available through OU's athletics web site.

Web Site: Oklahoma (www.SoonerSports.com), Utah (www.utahutes.com)

PROBABLE STARTERS
OKLAHOMA (5-0)                    PPG       RPG
10      F       Caton Hill                  14.2        4.4
14      C       Beky Preston            8.2         6.2
35      G      Dionnah Jackson      10.2        4.8
34      G      Erin Higgins               8.2           2.0
05      G      Maria Villarroel       14.8          6.0

UTAH (5-1)                                   PPG         RPG
30       F     Mandie Little               6.8            3.2
04       F     Kim Smith                   17.3           6.7
45       C     Carley Marshall          8.3            2.7
10       G     Shona Thorburn         13.0         7.3
14       G     Kelsy Stireman           3.7           3.2

SUNDAY PREVIEW
          For only the second time this season, the Oklahoma women's basketball team will enjoy the comforts of home when it plays host to No. 19/23 Utah Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners opened their season with four of their first five games on the road.
            The Sooners (5-0) are looking to continue their fortunes after winning the Pepperdine Invitational over the Thanksgiving holiday. Most recently, OU defeated SMU in an 85-63 decision in Dallas Wednesday. Senior forward Caton Hill produced her first double double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while freshman Leah Rush (13), senior Maria Villarroel (12) and junior Lauren Shoush (10) each scored in double digits. The Sooners continued their dominance on the boards, out rebounding SMU 49-24. OU grabbed 22 offensive caroms to the Mustangs' 11.
            Utah (5-1) also enters Sunday's game on a winning streak. The Utes have rallied off four wins in a row after losing at UC Santa Barbara, 52-44, in the preseason WNIT. Most recently, UU hosted and defeated Gonzaga, 88-64, Thursday. Utah made 11-of-16 shots from long range, with five different players scoring from beyond the arc. Sophomore Julie Wood wreaked the most havoc on the Bulldogs, draining all four of her three-point attempts and scoring 16 points in 16 minutes to lead all scorers. Utah Kim Smith scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds and three steals. She scored 10 of her points in the first half, but took just three second half shots. Shona Thorburn scored eight points and had eight assists, while Lana Sitterud chipped in 12 points.
            Oklahoma won its only meeting with Utah, 72-68, as a participant in the Dial Classic in Pullman, Wash., in 1995.

NO. 19/23 UTAH (5-1)
            Utah, who's ranked 19th in the AP poll and 23rd in the Coaches poll, is expected to give Oklahoma its first true test of the season as the Sooners enter Sunday's game with a +27.6 winning margin over their first five opponents. Utes also own a double digits scoring margin of +16.3.
            In her 21st season as head coach of the Utah women's basketball program Elanie Elliott returned five starters that produced an overall record of 24-7 and finished first (12-2) in the Mountain West Conference a year ago. That same team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Duke, 65-54.
            Elliott and her Utes competed in the preseason WNIT winning their first round game against Southeast Missouri State, 76-65, a team OU defeated by 35 points (83-48) on Nov. 24. UC Santa Barbara eliminated the Utes from the WNIT with a 52-44 loss on Nov. 17. Following that loss, Utah claimed the championship at the Fresno State Classic over Thanksgiving break, routing Western Kentucky 84-55 in the first round before defeating the host Bulldogs 66-53 in the title game. Sophomore Kim Smith was named tournament MVP after averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over the two games.
            Most recently, all 11 Utes have seen action in Utah's back-to-back home victories. Utah won its 19th straight home game Thursday night, defeating Gonzaga 88-64. The Utes were 29-of-53 on the game (54.7 percent) and 11-of-16 (68.8%) from the arc, while Gonzaga made 43.6 percent of its shots (24-of-55). Utah also out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 33-to-25, had 12 steals and forced 16 Zags turnovers.
            Sophomore Julie Wood drained all four of her threes attempted and scored a game-high 16 points in 16 minutes. Smith scored 15 points. She scored 10 of her points in the first half, but took just three second half shots. Shona Thorburn scored eight points and had eight assists, while Lana Sitterud chipped in 12 points.
            On the season, Utah is led by Smith, who averages 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Thorburn adds 13.0 points, a team-high 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

NO. 16/17 OKLAHOMA (5-0)
            Oklahoma returned a seasoned group of letterwinners and added an elite mix of talented newcomers, including two redshirt freshmen, to its 2003-04 roster making this year's team its deepest in eight seasons. Even though the Sooners have 10 underclassmen on the roster, eight of the returning players saw an average of 10 minutes per game last year.
            With early season success, the Oklahoma women's basketball program has returned to the national spotlight under eighth-year head coach Sherri Coale. The Sooners have won five consecutive games, earning them a No. 16 and No. 19 national rankings in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, respectively.
            Not only has OU returned to the national spotlight, the Sooners have made it clear that they can score and play defense, by producing a +27.6 point scoring margin over its opponents. The Sooners are also holding their opponents to just 60 points and only 26 rebounds per game. OU leads the Big 12 Conference in offensive production, averaging 87.6 points per game. OU also ranks among the league's top 5 in nine other categories, including first in free throw percentage (78.3) and rebounding defense (27.6).
            Oklahoma showcased its offensive power as the Sooners averaged 90 ppg and shot 59.1 percent (65-of-110) from the field at the Yellow Book Turkey Shoot Out last weekend. OU defeated Siena, 85-70, in the opening round and handed host Pepperdine a 95-77 loss for the title. The Sooners 95 points were the most scored since OU recorded 101 against Colorado in the 2001 Big 12 Tournament.
            OU's season opening win over ORU was one of the most lopsided victory in school history. The 48-point margin of victory tied for the fifth-most impressive win in school history, while the 90 point production marked OU's highest output since scoring 103 points in a season-opening win over TCU on Nov. 25, 2003.
            The Sooners have a well-balanced ability to score and rebound as four players are averaging 10 or more points and 4.5 plus rebounds per game.
            One of the biggest threat, but smallest bodies on the OU roster, is senior Maria Villarroel. The Margarita, Venezuela native averages a team high of 14.8 points. She also ranks second in rebounds with 6.0 rpg. She is backed up by senior power forward Caton Hill's 14.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg. Hill ranks second with 11 assists and nine steals. Manning the point guard position for the Sooners is junior Dionnah Jackson who chips in 10.2 points and a team-best 5.0 assists per game. Bench power comes from freshman sensation Leah Rush, who contributes 11.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg. The Amarillo, Texas native is also shooting lights out as she's nailed 21-of-34 shots from the field for a 61.8 accuracy.

HOLIDAY TICKET SPECIALS - SOONER SAVER HOLIDAY FAMILY PACKS
            Holiday Family Packs include your game ticket, a regular hotdog, a small Coke, and an OU t-shirt (coupon redeemable at OU Authentic) all for just $10 (minimum order of four packages)!
            Call the OU Athletic Ticket Office to redeem your Holiday Family Pack coupon. Holiday Family Pack coupon can be used for one of the following games:
           No. 19 Utah Sun., Dec. 7
           No. 3 Tennessee Sun., Dec. 21
           Illinois Sun., Dec. 28
           Wichita State Tues., Dec. 30

UP NEXT
            Oklahoma travels to Bozeman, Mont., to face Montana State (5-0) on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Sooners and Bobcats tip off at 7 p.m. inside the Worthington Arena.
            MSU is another solid team who has the ability to put points on the scoreboard. The Bobcats are averaging 81.4 points per game to their opponents 58.4 (+23 scoring margin). Montana State has four players contributing better than 10 points per game and three players who average 5.0 plus rebounds per contest.
            The Bobcats earned an overall record of 21-9 and tied for first place in the Big Sky Conference with a mark of 11-3 a year ago. MSU also advanced to post season action, losing to Colorado State, 87-47, in the first round of the WNIT.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Even thought 10 of 14 players on the OU roster are underclassmen, the Sooners don't lack leadership as seniors Caton Hill and Maria Villarroel who tops the team in scoring and ranks among the top rebounders.
Villarroel leads OU with 14.8 points and ranks a slight second on the team with 6.0 rpg. Sophomore center Beky Preston grabs an OU best 6.2 rpg. Hill chips in 14.2 ppg and averages 4.4 rpg, after producing her first double double of the season against SMU (14 points and 10 rebounds) Wednesday.

OUT OF THE GATES STRONG
This is the second team under current head coach Sherri Coale to open its season with a 5-0 record. The 2001-02 team opened its season with a 10-0 record before suffering its first loss to Connecticut. That team averaged 79.5 points per game, while this year's team is scoring a Big 12 best 87.6 ppg.

WELCH ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
Sophomore Chelsi Welch is on the road to recovery after knee surgery Thursday, Dec. 4. Welch, a 5-9 guard, had to reconstruct her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after tearing it during practice on Nov. 14. Dr. Donald McGinnis preformed the procedure in Oklahoma City.
The Plainview, Texas native was named the 2003 co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was an All-Big 12 second teamer. She scored six points, grabbed three rebounds while playing just 13 minutes in OU's first exhibition game against Sparta Praha.

HILL RECORDS FIRST DOUBLE DOUBLE OF SEASON
Senior Caton Hill increased her school double double record to 30 with 14 points and 10 rebounds against SMU Wednesday. Hill has surpassed several milestones already this season including moving up to No. 10 on Oklahoma's all-time scoring list. The Ada, Okla., native has a total to 1,318 points in three-plus years. Hill already holds the school record for most defensive boards (606).

PRESTON STEPPING UP
            Some thought sophomore Beky Preston wouldn't play as big of a role on this year's team with the return of senior standout Caton Hill. Preston and the coaching staff knew different as the 6-3 center blossomed during the offseason, gaining confidence and strength to improve her game.
            That confidence and strength was evident over the Thanksgiving holiday as the Albuquerque, N.M., native was named the Most Valuable Player of the Yellow Book Turkey Shoot Out, a tournament that OU won. Preston averaged 6.0 rebounds and 11.0 points per game, while shooting 60 percent (9-15) from the field. Against Siena, she hit 6-of-7 shots (85.7%) from the field and all four attempted free throws for a career-best 16 points. Preston also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds against Pepperdine.
            For the season, Preston chips in 8.2 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per outing. She also shoots 53.1 percent from the field, hitting 17-32 shots.

ICE-ICE BABY
            OU is currently the Big 12's top free throw shooting team with 78.3 and has two players who have yet to miss a free throw on the season: Krista Sanchez (6-6) and Erin Higgins (4-4). Higgins has not missed a free throw in a Sooner uniform. She made all six attempted foul shots against Tennessee before being sidelined last season.
            Two Sooners broke their streak against SMU as Maria Villarroel (17-18) and Caton Hill (15-17) ended their flawless performance at the stripe.
            Of Oklahoma's 438 points scored this year 21 percent (94) have come from the foul line.

COALE LOOKS TO BECOME OU'S WINNING COACH
Eighth year head coach Sherri Coale is six victories shy of becoming Oklahoma's all-time winningest women's basketball coach. The Healdton, Okla., native has produced 137 career wins, five shy of matching Maura McHugh's 142. Coale's 61.4 winning percentage also ranks second to McHugh's 67.0.
Coale is the only coach to have guided five Sooner teams to post season tournaments. McHugh took two teams to post season action, including OU's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1986.

NINE SOONERS SHOOTING 50% OR BETTER
Impressive. Nine Sooners are shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Leading the way is OU “sixth-man” Leah Rush. The rookie has hit 21-of-34 shots for a impressive 61.8 field goal accuracy. Hitting 60 percent of their shots is freshman Casey Walker (3-5) and junior Lauren Shoush (6-10), followed by senior Caton Hill who has made 26-of-45 shots for a 57.8 percentage. Senior guard Maria Villarroel, who ranked 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage last season, is shooting 54.9 percent, making 28-of-51 shots.
Impressive. Oklahoma has shot better than 50 percent from the field in four consecutive games, hitting 158-of-303 shots (52.1%). OU is also shooting 78.3 percent (94-120) from the free throw line and 39.4 from the arc (28-71).

RUSH SET FOR ACTION
Freshman Leah Rush as stepped up to the challenge of NCAA Division I women's basketball. The rookie from Amarillo, Texas comes off the bench to rank among OU's top five with 4.6 rebounds per game. She tops the team with a 61.8 field goal percentage and ranks third in points per game (11.8). Rush grabbed a career-best 11 boards in her collegiate debut against ORU and scored a personal-best 16 points in her first Lloyd Noble Center outing.

SOONERS CLEAN THE GLASS
Oklahoma's 68 rebounding performance against ORU marked the most impressive glass cleaning under current head coach Sherri Coale. Prior to that, a Coale team had pulled down 52 rebounds against five different teams, including three times during the 2000-01 season. OU's 32 offensive boards were more than ORU had as a team, 23.
The school record is 75 set against Cameron on Nov. 30, 1982.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Top 25 Women's Basketball Action Sunday at 2 p.m.

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