Women's Basketball Hosts Media Day

NORMAN, Okla. -- OU head women's basketball coach Sherri Coale and selected players met with the press corps for the 2004 Media Day in the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club in Norman on Tuesday afternoon.

Coale and the players discussed the upcoming season and reviewed OU's two exhibition games. The Sooners defeated Latvia, 101-57, and Oklahoma Christian, 91-61.

OU returns 12 letterwinners from the 2003-04 team that went 24-9 and won the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Oklahoma became the first team in conference history to beat four opponents in five days and win the title.

2004 Media Day Photo Gallery

Head Coach Sherri Coale
On the season:
"We've had 24 workouts and they've been really good. I like our pieces and the way we've been working together. Two exhibition games and the first one is the cleanest opening game that we've had since I've been here. We took good care of the basketball, played hard, played well together and everyone scored. We had great balance. We were alright against Oklahoma Christian but not great. There's plenty of room for improvement, but I saw some really good things. Practices have been incredibly competitive and it is definitely time to play somebody other than ourselves."

On the team's identity:
"I hope we're not too different because I like who we've been. I think our confidence, competitive nature, our relentless style, playing up tempo and shooting with a great amount of freedom - those things are going to continue. One thing that I think we have that's a little bit different is experienced youth. We have young guys who have played a lot. Our basketball IQ has a chance to be really high. We're doing things right now that last year's team figured out in late February and early March. That's how it's suppose to be and why we as coaches get really happy when our freshman turn into sophomores. Hopefully, the signature of this team will be a fast-break, attack-oriented offense and dictation defense where decide what our opponents are going to do and the way the speed of the game will go."

On winning the Big 12 Tournament last season:
"It was absolutely huge. We were in a very unique situation in that we played incredibly well in Dallas and did a thing that hadn't ever been done before. Then we went to the NCAA Tournament and stubbed our toe a little bit. We didn't play quite the way we had played in Dallas.

If we had not had that opportunity to go to Europe and take that trip together and spend 10 days in our practice gym working, I'm not sure we could have rung everything that we've been able to ring out of the confidence that was demonstrated in Dallas. It was a special opportunity to allow us to build on a certain feel. That's a lot of it - does it feel right and is there a cadence to what you do. We recognized that in Dallas. We were able to recreate that in the practice gym in the spring and build on it over the summer and it's here this fall. That opportunity to go over seas has made all the difference in the world."

On Dionnah Jackson's role:
"I think her strength is that there's not anything she can't do. What she gives us more than anything is swagger. I want her to score, defend, rebound, but the most important thing I want her to do is to walk around and act like we can beat anybody in America. There's a power to that that you can't create in any other way. It's important for her to score, but we can win if she scores four or five points. The sign of a really great leader is someone who does whatever needs to be done at any given point in time. Her capabilities lend her toward that."

On the offense:
"We've got a lot of guys that can really shoot it. Without a doubt, our motion offense works the best when we can score from the block and from the perimeter. The ball has to go inside to create the balance you need to attack defenses effectively. I think that's where Beky's (Preston) presence is so significant. When we're able to go to the block and force people to make decisions on how they're going to guard our post players, it suddenly creates one-on-one situations for our guards. I don't know of any defender in the country that wants to cover Dionnah Jackson one-on-one or spread out to Mars to find Erin Higgins to keep her from shooting a three. We have the potential to really stretch defenses and really put them in a quandary as to what they're going to take away."

Senior Guard Dionnah Jackson
On this team's identity:
"We are able to give a lot. We're deeper, older and more experienced than we have been in the past. We're competitive and that's the key to everything we do. We compete! I think that's the team that will be out there everyday."

On being a senior:
"It's kind of weird, I'm a senior. Yesterday, I was a freshman. Sometimes I think it's been a long time and other times I think it went by so fast. I'm just enjoying it."

On being talked about as a star in the Big 12
"I don't think about it. It's an honor because this conference is big time and has competitive athletes and players. To be known as one of the top players, means you are one of the top ones in the nation. I appreciate it and it's an honor for me."

On her role as a leader:
"At first I thought I was forced into it but, now, I like it. I like the role and I like being the leader and taking responsibility. It's fun and you have to make it fun. I have the best in my teammates. I love them. We're a family. It's easy to take that role and go with it when it's your family.

Sophomore Forward Leah Rush
On where OU fits nationally
"I think OU is right at the top right along with anybody else. I have another year under my belt and that makes coming into this year a lot easier. I know what to expect. I always watched OU on TV in high school, but when you're on the floor, it's a whole different game. As a team, I like how we're looking right now and how it feels. I'm expecting us to be right up there with anybody else."

On her role as a forward:
"Beky's (Preston) has really stepped up this year and is a huge force inside. I've been outside (on the wing) a lot more and I'm getting more and more comfortable with that. I'm fine with that. Becky and I are learning to play together as a unit of forwards. You'll see me outside a little more this year because Beky has been great inside."

On broadening her game:
"I worked a lot on my outside game this summer because we have Kelly (Lam), who is a freshman, doing a good job on the inside as are the rest of our centers. I have to be able to come out and be more effective on the perimeter so we can get some inside production from some of those guys. I've been working on outside shooting and ball handling."

Sophomore Guard Erin Higgins
On Shot Selection:
"I don't move any further than what's not allowed, I've been shooting basically the same, I try to shoot good shots. I don't want to force anything up. I just try to make a good decision. If it's a good shot and I'm open then I don't mind taking it."

Developing the drive or other jump shots:
"I've been really working on my pull up jumper. I'm also really working on my one dribble pickup, getting my shot off and creating my own shot."

On Chelsi Welch returning:
"It's going to help tremendously. With Beky playing the way she is in the post and Dionnah at the point, Chelsi and I are going to get our shots. People have to respect Leah's inside and outside game as well. I'm excited to have her back."

Winning Big 12 and NCAA Tournament:
"You learn a lot about your team, a lot about what we're actually capable of doing. You see spurts of it throughout the season, but once you put it all together at one time, it kind of blows you away at first. But, this is how we play, this is what we do and this is Oklahoma Basketball! Our hunger really developed over in Europe. When we were practicing during that time, practices really got competitive, exciting and fun. I think that's what drove us to be where we are right now."

Junior Center Beky Preston
On Dionnah:
"She is so versatile, she does a lot of things really well and it just blows my mind that she hasn't gotten more accolades and that people aren't talking about her more. Which it kind of gives her an advantage to come in as an underdog and not be quite as focused. I think she is very underrated."

The team:
"You want to be underrated. Who wants to start off being the top dog, an turn out to be a total bust? It's just more motivational to be underrated and it's a good situation to be in."

Last Year:
"Any time you can get that extended season and get more people more floor time and more experience it is extremely important, because people are put in tougher situations. The Big 12 Tournament is one of a kind, we get to play against the best players in the country and it's absolutely invaluable."

Sophomore Guard Chelsi Welch
On OU's offense:
"It's so much more balanced. Anything that's more balanced is going to be better. It takes a lot of pressure of certain players because everyone can score and it makes it a lot easier offensively."

On not getting to play in Europe:
"It was frustrating because it was such a relaxed and fun trip. It was almost to the point where I could play. I was really patient with myself and knew that I wasn't ready. I could feel it. I knew when I was ready to play and when I wasn't. I still feel that and if it hurts one day, I'm not going to go out and push it. I was pretty patient with myself and didn't get too frustrated with it."

On the team's chemistry:
"Chemistry is not a problem because we're such a close team all the way around. We're all friends and we love each other like family. Chemistry just comes easy to us."

On learning while injured:
"I learned a ton. I've taken a lot from it and I'm thankful for that."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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