Sooner Hoops At Montana State Wednesday.

Oklahoma women's basketball looks to extend its winning steak.

MEDIA INFORMATION
No. 14/17 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) vs. Montana State Bobcats (5-2)

Date & Time: Wed., Dec. 10 @ 7 p.m. (MST)

Site: Worthington Arena (7,250) - Bozeman, Mont.

Series Record: Tied 1-1

Tickets: Still available by calling MSU Ticket Office (406-994-CATS).

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

Web Site: Oklahoma (www.SoonerSports.com), Montana State (www.msubobcats.com)

PROBABLE STARTERS
OKLAHOMA (6-0)              PPG      RPG
10    F    Caton Hill               14.5        4.7
14    F    Beky Preston           8.3        6.8
35    G    Dionnah Jackson    11.3       5.2
34    G    Erin Higgins            7.3          1.8
5    G    Maria Villarroel       13.5          5.8

MONTANA STATE (5-2)       PPG        RPG
33    F    Sheila Hutchison       17.0         5.0
32    F    Kati Burrows            10.4         7.6
54    C    Belinda Stubbs          7.5          6.3
12    G    Jaimey Tanner           9.3          1.6
02    G    Jana Smith                 9.0          2.8

WEDNESDAY PREVIEW
      Oklahoma (6-0) returns to the road after picking up a 73-65 victory over No. 19/23 Utah Sunday inside the Lloyd Noble Center. Montana State (5-2) enters Wednesday's contest after dropping back-to-back games in the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic last weekend.
      Montana State hosts the Sooners Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. inside the Worthington Arena in Bozeman, Mont.
      Both teams have the ability to put points on the board as OU averages 85.2 ppg while MSU scores 73.1 ppg. The Sooners have four players who contributes more than 10 points per game, while the Bobcats have two. OU has outscored its opponents 268-181 (+87) in the final 20 minutes of the game and owns a +24.3 scoring margin. MSU also sports a double digits scoring margin of +11.0.
      In the win over Utah Sunday, Oklahoma had three players in double digits lead by junior point guard Dionnah Jackson's season-high 17 points, followed by senior Caton Hill's 16 and freshman Britney Brown's career-high 10. Sophomore Beky Preston matched her personal best with a game-high 10 rebounds and chipped in nine points.
      The Bobcats suffered their first losses of the season to Binghamton (59-55) and Western Michigan (84-621) last week. Prior to that, MSU had won five consecutive games. In the consolation game for MSU Shelia Hutchinson recorded team-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds. She also had three assists and two steals.

OU-MONTANA STATE SERIES
      The all-time series between OU and Montana State is short with each team winning one game. Most recently, the Sooners hosted and defeated the Bobcats, 86-62 (+24 points) in Norman in 2002. Three Sooners on this year's team contributed in that win (Caton Hill, Lauren Shoush, Dionnah Jackson).
      Prior to that contest, the only other matchup took place when MSU defeated OU, 86-80, in Provo, Utah as participants in the BYU Invitational on Dec. 29, 1989.
      OU is 4-2 against teams from the Big Sky. The only other teams Oklahoma has faced from that conference is Northern Arizona (1-1), Eastern Washington (1-0) and Montana (1-0).

MONTANA STATE (5-2)
      Even though the Bobcats are on a two-game losing streak, they can score the basketball. Montana State is averaging 73.1 points and 37.6 rebounds per game, the second most caroms of any OU opponent this season (Pepperdine averaged 42.0 rpg).
      MSU opened the season with wins over UC Riverside (91-66), Utah State (65-41), Texas State (85-70), Sam Houston State (75-70) and Montana Tech (91-45).
      Leading the Bobcats in scoring is senior guard Sheila Hutchison. Hutchison averages 17.0 ppg and a team-best 4.9 assists per game. She is backed up by junior forward Kati Burrows' 10.4 ppg and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per outing.
      In just her third season as head coach of the Montana State women's basketball program Robin Potera-Haskins returned three starters that produced an overall record of 21-9 and tied for first place in the Big Sky Conference with a mark of 11-3. MSU advanced to post season action, losing to Colorado State, 87-47, in the first round of the WNIT.
      Coach Potera-Haskins will be going for her 300th career win against the Sooners Wednesday. She has coached at Texas Wesleyan, Austin College and Wilmer Hutchins High School.

OKLAHOMA (6-0)
      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 six consecutive games, earning them a No. 14 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 +24.3 point scoring margin over its opponents. The Sooners are also holding their opponents to just 60.8 points and only 26.7 rebounds per game. OU ranks second the Big 12 Conference in offensive production, averaging 85.2 points per game. Baylor leads the league with 86.7 ppg. OU also ranks among the league's top 5 in nine other categories, including first in free throw percentage (.770) and rebounding margin (+16.0).
      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 over the Thanksgiving break. OU defeated Siena, 85-70, in the opening round and handed host Pepperdine a 95-77 loss in the title game. The Sooners 95 points was 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 women's basketball 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 five different players had led OU in each category this year. In addition, OU has 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 ranks second on the team in points (13.5) and rebounds (5.8) per game, while senior Caton Hill tops the squad with 14.5 ppg.
      Hill ranks second with 14 assists and nine steals. Manning the point guard position for the Sooners is junior Dionnah Jackson who chips in 11.3 points and a team-best 4.2 assists per game. Bench power comes from freshman sensation Leah Rush, who contributes 11.2 points and 4.0 rpg. The Amarillo, Texas native is also shooting lights out as she's nailed 25-of-40 shots from the field for a 62.5 accuracy.

OPERATION SELLOUT - SOONER SAVER HOLIDAY FAMILY PACKS
      Next up for the Sooners inside the Lloyd Noble Center is the third-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. and “Operation Sellout” is underway. Tickets are still available including the Holiday Family Packs which includes 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)!
      December 29th, 1999 was a record setting day for Oklahoma women's basketball attendance as No. 1 Connecticut drew 10,713 fans to the Lloyd Noble Center, making it the largest attendance to view a women's athletic event in state at that time. Since then the only crowds larger have been during the NCAA Tournament here in Norman.
      Call 800-456-GoOU or online at www.soonersports.com and get your tickets before it's too late!
      Holiday Family Pack coupon can be used for one of the following games:
     No. 3 Tennessee Sun., Dec. 21
     Illinois Sun., Dec. 28
     Wichita State Tues., Dec. 30

UP NEXT
Oklahoma will play its final non-conference road game of the season when the Sooners travel to Nacogodoches, Texas to face Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. The Ladyjacks are currently 0-6 on the season with losses to Louisiana Tech (109-60), Colorado State (72-57), Duke (119-53), Creighton (91-64), Rice (94-50) and most recently Eastern Kentucky (84-73).
SFA is lead by LaToya Mills' 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, followed by Nikki Carr's 8.2 ppg. The Ladyjacks are shooting 35.7 percent from the field but allowing their opponents to shoot 51.8 percent. SFA is also being outrebounded, 47-30.

OU AMONG ELITE PROGRAMS
Oklahoma, Purdue and Texas are the only schools to have their men's and women's basketball and football teams ranked in the current AP top-25 polls.

SOONER ROOKIES STANDING STRONG AGAINST BIG 12 FRESHMEN
Oklahoma has all six of its freshmen ranked among the Big 12 Freshmen Best. Leading the way for the Sooners is Leah Rush who ranks among the league's best in six categories, including second in free throw percentage (.842) and third in scoring (11.2). However, she tops the chart of rookies who have made and attempted more than 10 free throws.

SOONER BENCH POWER
Out of Oklahoma's 511 points scored this season 38 percent (192 points) has come from its bench. Freshmen Leah Rush's 67 points account for 35 percent of the bench scoring.
As a group, OU reserves have outscored the opponents subs 192-67.

JUST IN CASE YOU WANTED TO KNOW
Oklahoma has never trailed at halftime (6-0) ... largest margin of victory this season has been 48 points over ORU (N22) ... OU is 6-0 when dishing out more assists than its opponents ... the Sooners have hit 50 percent or better from the field in four of six games ... OU freshmen class account for 34 percent of the team's total offense while the starters are responsible for 65 percent of the points (330) and 57 percent of its rebounds (146) ... this team is currently averaging a school record 85.2 ppg, second is 84.5 ppg by the 1984-85 squad ... OU has set two team record under the Sherri Coale Era, most team rebounds (68) and most attempted shots (80) against ORU (N22).

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 tops the team in scoring and ranks among the top rebounders.
For the first time in nearly a year Villarroel does not lead OU in scoring but ranks a close second to Hill's 14.5 ppg. Hill also averages 4.7 rpg, fourth best on the team. Villarroel chips in 13.5 ppg and averages 5.8 rpg, second best on the team. Sophomore center Beky Preston grabs an OU best 6.8 rpg.

WELCH ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
Sophomore Chelsi Welch is on the road to recovery after knee surgery on 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, 2003. Dr. Donald McGinnis preformed the surgery 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.

OUT OF THE GATES STRONG
This is the second team under current head coach Sherri Coale to open its season with a 6-0 record. The 2001-02 team opened its season with a 10-0 record before suffering its first loss to Connecticut (86-72, Dec. 22, 2001). That team averaged 79.5 points per game, while this team is scoring 85.2 ppg, second best in the Big 12.

HILL RECORDS FIRST DOUBLE DOUBLE OF SEASON
Senior Caton Hill increased her career double double record to 30 with 14 points and 10 rebounds against SMU on 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 1,334 points in three-plus years. Hill already holds the school record for most defensive boards (610).

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 55.3 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 8.3 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per outing. She also shoots 55.3 percent from the field, hitting 21-38 shots.

ICE-ICE BABY
OU is currently the Big 12's top free throw shooting team with 77.0 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.
Of Oklahoma's 511 points scored this year 20 percent (104) have come from the foul line.

SEVEN SOONERS SHOOTING 50% OR BETTER
      Impressive. Seven Sooners are shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Leading the way is OU “sixth-man” Leah Rush. The rookie has hit 25-of-40 shots for a impressive 62.5 field goal accuracy. Hitting 60 percent of her shots is freshman Casey Walker (3-5) while sophomore Beky Preston has hit 21-of-38 shots for a 55.3 accuracy. Junior Lauren Shoush has connected on 6-of-11 shots (54.5%) and senior Caton Hill who has made 30-of-55 shots (54.5%). Senior guard Maria Villarroel, who ranked 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage last season, is shooting 52.6 percent, making 30-of-57 attempts.
      Impressive. Oklahoma has shot better than 50 percent from the field in four of its six games, hitting 185-of-361 shots (51.2%). OU is also shooting 77.0 percent (104-135) from the free throw line and 39.8 from the arc (37-93).
      OU's 51.2 field goal percentage would currently rank as a school record. The 1984-85 team shot 49.5 for the season.

GOLD RUSH
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
in 11 of 16 Sooner categories. She tops the team with a 62.5 field goal percentage and ranks fourth in points per game (11.2). 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 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.

COALE LOOKS TO BECOME OU'S WINNING COACH
      Eighth year head coach Sherri Coale is five victories shy of becoming Oklahoma's all-time winningest women's basketball coach. The Healdton, Okla., native has produced 138 career wins, five shy of matching Maura McHugh's 142. Coale's 61.6 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.
      If the Sooners continue to win, Coale will reach this milestone against Wichita State on Dec. 30, 2003.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Hoops At Montana State Wednesday.

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