OU Women Playing Live on FSN

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma women's basketball team (5-3) is set to embark on a two-game road streak following finals. OU heads into the Nike Classic riding a one-game winning streak. The Sooners will face Louisiana Tech (4-3) at 6 p.m. CST inside McArthur Court in Eugene, Ore. Sat., Dec. 18. Oklahoma is one of four teams participating in this year's Nike Classic. Host Oregon will face No. 10/7 Ohio State in the nightcap at 8:30 p.m.

Both games will be televised by Fox Sports Network. Ann Schatz (play-by-play) and Brenda Van Lengen (color) will call the games for FSN. The following Fox Sports Regions will air both games: Arizona, Bay Area, Chicago, Florida, Midwest, North, New York, Rocky Mountain, South, Ohio, Northwest, West, West2. Fox Sports Southwest will just carry the OU-Louisiana Tech matchup.

OU's Brian Brinkley and Tara DeGiusti will be bring Sooner fans women's basketball action live on KOKC-AM (1520) and on SoonerSports.com.

Following Saturday's game, Oklahoma heads straight to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Tues., Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. before returning to Norman for the holiday break. OU has an 8 p.m. CST tip against the Utes inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

OU defeated SMS, 74-71, last Saturday to end a two-game losing streak. Four of Oklahoma's starting five Leah Rush (25), Chelsi Welch (16), Laura Andrews (13) and Dionnah Jackson (11) scored in double figures. Rush, Welch and Andrews' figures were season highs. Rush's 25 points were a career best and her 12 rebounds matched a personal best for her first double-double of the year.

Oklahoma is lead by Jackson, a senior All-America candidate. The 5-9 point guard has been the team's leader for the past three seasons. She currently tops the squad in 10 categories including scoring (14.5 ppg), assists (5.1), steals (3.0) and blocks (1.5). She also ranks second in rebounding (7.4). Rush leads the team with 7.6 boards, followed by 13.4 points per game.

OU has five additional players contributing five-plus points per game; Chelsi Welch (7.6), Krista Sanchez (6.4), Erin Higgins (6.1), and Lauren Shoush (5.9).

Head coach Sherri Coale is still looking of a consistent rotation as 11 Sooners are averaging 10-plus minutes per game. Only Jackson, Rush and Higgins are playing 20 minutes or more per contest.

Oklahoma averages 69.1 points and 41.2 rebounds per game. The Sooners are shooting 30.2 percent from the three-point range and 40.5 percent from the field.

Oklahoma (5-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (4-3)

Event: Nike Classic
Host: University of Oregon
Date: Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Arena: McArthur Court
Tipoff: 6 p.m. CST
TV: Fox Sports Network Southwest
Radio: KOKC (1520 AM)
Series: La Tech leads 4-0

Oklahoma (5-3) at Utah (7-2)

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Arena: Jon M. Huntsman Center
Tipoff: 8 p.m. CST
TV: None
Radio: KOKC (1520 AM)
Series: OU leads 2-0

PROBABLE STARTERS
OKLAHOMA (5-3)
24 F Leah Rush (6-1, So., Amarillo, Texas ... 13.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
34 G Erin Higgins (5-9, So., Oklahoma City ... 6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
35 G Dionnah Jackson (5-9, Sr., St. Louis, Mo. ... 14.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
11 G Laura Andrews (6-0, Jr., Washington, Okla. ... 4.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
00 G Chelsi Welch (5-9, So., Plainview, Texas ... 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg)

LOUISIANA TECH (4-3)
44 F Tashia Combs (6-1, Jr., Midwest City, Okla. ... 2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
45 F Tamika Kursh (6-1, So., Ft. Smith, Ark. ... 7.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
00 G Lakiste Barkus (5-6, Sr., Long Beach, Calif. ... 12.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
10 G Tasha Crain (5-7, Jr., Kingsland, Ark. ... 14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
21 G Shan Moore (5-10, So., Minden, La. ... 13.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg)

UTAH (7-2)
04 F Kim Smith (5-11, Jr., Mission, B.C. ... 16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg)
23 C Deanne Hanchett (6-3, Fr., Draper, Utah ... 9.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
10 G Shona Thorburn (5-10, Jr., Hamilton, Ontario ... 12.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
32 G Lana Sitterud (5-10, Sr., Highland, Utah ... 10.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
21 G Julie Wood (5-4, Jr., Logan, Utah ... 4.1 ppg, 0.4 rpg)

SERIES HISTORY VS. LOUISIANA TECH
The two programs have not faced each other in 10 years. However, Louisiana Tech holds a 4-0 edge over Oklahoma, including two post season victories. In the four wins, LaTech scored 100-plus points twice.

The first meeting resulted in an 88-68 victory for La Tech during the 1981 SWAIAW Championship in Nacogdoches, Texas. The two teams hosted one another for the following two seasons.

Twelve years later Louisiana Tech hosted OU during the 1995 NCAA Tournament. Tech won 48-36. OU's 36 points scored remains a team low for the Sooners in post season action.

Sherri Coale has not faced Louisiana Tech.

LOUISIANA TECH (4-3)
Saturday's game will be the third game in six days for Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters escaped Lorman, Miss., with a 62-61 win over Alcorn State Monday night. Wednesday La Tech hosted and lost to No. 9/10 Tennessee, 70-59.

La Tech has three players averaging double digits in scoring. Tasha Crain leads the team with 14.3 ppg, followed by Shan Moore's 13.9 and Lakiste Barkus' 12.1. Moore averages a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game.

As a team, Tech is averaging 67.0 points and 41.9 rebounds per game. The Lady Techsters are shooting 70.6 percent from the free throw line, 39.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the arch.

Against Tennessee, Tech came back from a 12-point second half deficit with 6:33 to play but wasn't able to take the lead. The Techster trio scored in double digits. Crain had a game-high tying 17 points, while Moore had 14 and Barkus added 12. Crain also had a game-high tying seven rebounds. UT out rebounded the Techsters, 39-33, and forced 17 turnovers. Both teams went to the free throw line 20-plus times while 20 fouls were called on each. Tech shot 42.6 percent from the field (20-47) but hit just four of 13 three-pointers (30.8%).

The Lady Techsters lost four letterwinners but retuned starters Crain and Erica Taylor. Taylor is sitting out non-conference play due to having a baby girl, Nia Jay Taylor (7 pound, 14 ounce) on Dec. 14. Taylor and her husband Jermain, who's ranked No. 3 in the world after winning his last fight Dec. 4 to keep his WBCA Continental Americas belt and remain undefeated, expect her back with the team by Jan. 3.

Tech has one player from the state of Oklahoma - Tashia Combs. She is a 6-1 junior from Midwest City that transfer to La Tech from Midland (Texas) Junior College. Combs, a 2002 Star Spencer graduate, was a first team All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference selection last year. The forward has played in all seven games and started two. She averages 2.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

La Tech gained the talent of former Colorado player, Amber Metoyer. But, due to NCAA rules Metoyer must sit out a season before becoming eligible.

SERIES HISTORY VS. UTAH
Oklahoma and Utah faced each other a year ago in Norman. The Sooners won a hard fought battle, 73-65. At that time Utah was ranked No. 19 in the AP and No. 23 in the Coaches polls, while OU was ranked No. 16/17, respectively.

The only other meeting between these two teams occurred in 1995, OU won 72-68.

Sherri Coale is 1-0 against Utah.

UTAH (7-2)
Utah is currently 7-2 on the season with recent wins over then-ranked TCU, 85-72, Washington, 64-56, and Weber State, 66-59. The Utes only losses have come against ranked opponents; Stanford, 63-57, and Michigan State, 56-54.

Utah travels to Loyola Marymount on Sat., Dec. 18 before hosting the Sooners on Tues., Dec. 21.

The Utes are a very solid team as three players contributes 10-plus points per game. Utah is lead by junior Kim Smith who averages a double-double of 16.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg. Shona Thorburn and Lana Sitterud accounts for 12.4 and 10.7 ppg, respectively. Thorburn also averages 7.6 rpg.

Utah is shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 73.9 percent from the free throw line. The Utes have also made 63 three-pointers to OU's 52. Utah takes care of the basketball as it only averages 13.6 turnovers per game to its 15.4 assists per game.

HEAD COACHES
Sherri Coale (Oklahoma Christian, 1987) is in her ninth season as the head coach at Oklahoma. Coale has built an outstanding resume in that time, leading the Sooners to post season action the last six seasons, as well as one Final Four an three Big 12 regular-season titles. She has posted a 161-98 career record and coached in the national championship game in 2001-02, falling to undefeated Connecticut, 82-70. Before taking over the reigns of the OU program, Coale was the head coach at Norman High School from 1990-96, winning two Oklahoma 6A state titles in that time.

Kurt Budke (Washburn (Kan.) Univ. 1984) is in his third year as Louisiana Tech's head women's basketball coach. In two years, he has already built an impressive resume by guiding the Lady Techsters to an overall record of 64-9 (including this season), back-to-back WAC regular season and tournament titles. Budke has also guided Tech to two consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and a pair of top 10 fiinal rankings. He became just the third coach in La Tech women's basketball history on Aug. 23, 2002. Budke spent two years with La Tech as an associate coach to the legendary in Leon Barmore.

Utah is coach by Elaine Elliott (Boise State, 1977). Elliott is in her 22nd season with the Utes and has produced a career record of 444-180. She's the all-time winningest coach in Utah basketball history. The Utes have appeared in 11 NCAA Tournaments and has won eight regular-season conference titles. In 21 years, Elliott has accomplished 20 winning seasons.

NEUTRAL SITES NOT THAT FRIENDLY TO OU
What a difference a year can make. Last year's team had success when playing on a neutral court, going 7-1 (only loss was to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament). This year's team is 1-2 when playing at a neutral site. OU has one more neutral site game remaining. The Sooners will face Louisiana Tech in Eugene, Ore., in the Nike Classic on Dec. 18.

JACKSON IS ONE OF A KIND
Senior Dionnah Jackson is the ONLY player in the Big 12 Conference that ranks in 10 of 13 statistical categories. The next closest player is Iowa State's Anne O'Neil who ranks in eight.

OU SHUFFLES LINEUP
Head coach Sherri Coale has put four different lineup on the court this season. Coale has played all available 13 players in three games and 11 players are averaging 10-plus minutes per game.

Only Dionnah Jackson, Leah Rush and Erin Higgins have started all eight games and average better than 20 minutes per game.

JACKSON'S MOVING ON UP...
With eight games under her belt, senior Dionnah Jackson is climbing OU's career charts. Jackson now ranks among the top five in defensive rebounds and steals. The St. Louis, Mo., native is fourth in career defensive rebounds (485) and fifth in steals (224). She has picked up 24 steals, including a personal-best nine against Iowa, and 42 defensive boards for the moves.

One more defensive board ties Jackson with Sooner great Stacey Dales-Schuman for third. She is also eight shy of fourth place in steals and four blocks short of fifth.

Jackson broke into OU's all-time scoring and rebounding list when she recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds at TCU (D9). She now has registered 1,169 career points (15th) and 633 rebounds (13th). Jackson is 22 shy of 14th in scoring and six short of 12th in rebounding.

SCORING WOES
It's been two years since Oklahoma has averaged less than 70 points per game. OU is currently averaging 69.1 points per game. The 2002-03 squad finished the season with a 66.8 ppg mark, while the 1997-98 team averaged 67.7 ppg.

Only three teams in the Sherri Coale era has finished the season averaging below 70 ppg -- her first two teams and the 2002-03 squad.

RUSH CARRYING INSIDE LOAD
Sophomore Leah Rush is carrying most of the load for the Sooners in the paint. The 6-1 forward has scored in double digits in five of eight games and has had nine or more rebounds in each of OU's last four games.

The Amarillo, Texas native ranks second to Dionnah Jackson in scoring (13.4 ppg) and blocks (7). Rush tops the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and ranks second in free throw percentage, hitting 86.2 percent of her shots (25-of-29), of players shooting more than 20 foul shots. That figure also ranks sixth best in the Big 12 Conference. Overall, Rush is shooting 42.9 percent from the field.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS
One thing that is going right for the Sooners is the sharing of the basketball. Sixty-two percent of Oklahoma's made field goals (197) have been assisted (141) this season. Only 56 made field goals have been unassisted.

In the last three games, OU has also cut down on its turnovers. The Sooners took much better care of the basketball against Tulsa, TCU and SMS recording only 14, 15 and 16 TOs, respectively. Against TCU, OU had 12 at halftime but only committed three turnovers in the final 20 minutes.

Usually the smaller of the two teams on the court, OU has out rebounded six of its eight opponents.

JACKSON RECORDS SIXTH TRIPLE DOUBLE IN BIG 12 HISTORY
Preseason All-American Dionnah Jackson posted the Big 12's sixth and OU's second triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Tulsa on Dec. 4. Former Sooner LaNae Jones produced OU's first triple-double with 12 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks against Southern on Dec. 29, 1993.

Following is a list of Big 12 Triple-Doubles.
Dionnah Jackson (Oklahoma, 2004) - 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
Megan Mahoney (Kansas State, 2004) - 12 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists
Toccara Williams (Texas A&M, 2002) - 13 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists
Edwina Brown (Texas, 2000) - 18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
Edwina Brown (Texas, 1999) - 13 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
Rene Hanebutt (Texas Tech, 1997) - 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists

HOME SWEET HOME
The Oklahoma is 4-0 inside the Lloyd Noble Center this season. OU has produced a home court record of 72-14, an 83.7 winning percentage, over the last seven years. The Sooners have only lost three non-conference games during this period (Connecticut 2000 (84-68), SMU 2003 (71-68) and Tennessee 2004 (71-55)).

OU STILL AMONG NATION'S ELITE IN HOME ATTENDANCE
OU currently ranks No. 17 on the unofficial 2004-05 women's basketball home attendance rankings compiled by the University of Wisconsin. The Sooners currently draw 4,722 fans to home games (fourth best in the Big 12 Conference).

SHOUSH MAKING AN IMPACT AS A SENIOR
Senior Lauren Shoush has appeared in the starting lineup in two games this season and 12 total for her career. The Oklahoma City native has earned this opportunity by averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She's also shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 76.5 percent from the foul line.

IMPROVED SHOT BLOCKERS
Oklahoma has already registered 28 blocked shots this season, compared to seven this time last year. OU's Dionnah Jackson leads the team with 12 after establishing a personal-best four blocks against Lamar. She also led the team last year with 22 blocked shots. The 5-9 point guard moved up to No. 7 on OU's all time career list for most blocked shot with 50. She's four shy of the top 5.

Sophomore Leah Rush ranks second with seven blocks and all but four Sooners have blocked a shot this season.

MCGHEE PRESEASON BIG 12 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Stephanie McGhee played in her first collegiate game against TCU. The 6-0 guard/forward saw three minutes of playing time after missing the first six games due to a stress fracture in her right fibula. McGhee scored her first collegiate points on her first attempted jumper with 16 seconds to play in the first half.

McGhee was named the Preseason Big 12 and Media Freshman of the Year. She played in both of OU's exhibition games and averaged 8.5 points. Three of her five field goals made were 3s. McGhee is the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,376 points, a mark that broke the previous record by more than 600 points.

IN SEARCH OF 500TH PROGRAM WIN
Oklahoma is 15 wins shy of reaching its 500 career victory. The 31-year old women's basketball program has 484 wins.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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