Sooners face Colorado in Quarterfinals of Big 12 Tournament Wednesday

Even though Colorado sports an all-time series record of 33-15 when playing Oklahoma the last 12 meetings between the two teams have been more balanced.

Big 12 Gametracker

Since the 1997 campaign (Sherri Coale's first season) the two teams have gone 7-5 in favor of the Sooners including a 20-point win (78-58) in Norman this season. However, CU did eliminate OU in the quarter finals of last year's Big 12 Tournament, 73-68, behind the efforts of senior Tera Bjorklund's then-career-high 32 points.

On the flip side of things, Oklahoma's Caton Hill averages a double double (15.7 points and 10.0 rebounds) when playing Colorado. Hill's personal best of 25 points was established against CU in Boulder on Jan. 3, 2001. She also scored 23 against them in the Big 12 Tournament that same year. Hill has produced three double double in six tries vs. the Buffs.

BIG 12 TOURNAMENT QUARTER FINALS
#6 Seed Oklahoma (20-8)
vs.
#3 Seed Colorado (22-6)

Event: 2004 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Dallas, Texas
Dates: March 9, 10, 11 and 13, 2004
Site: Reunion Arena (16,500)
Tickets: Reserved (All Session) 11 Games...$75; General Admission (All Session)...$45; Single game tickets are also available by calling 214-373-8000.

OU's quarterfinal game: Wed., March 10 @ 8:30 p.m.
Opponent: Colorado (22-6, 11-5 Big 12)
Seeds: OU is the sixth seed, while Colorado is the third seed
Series Record: CU leads 33-15
Radio: Sooner Sports Network - KOMA-AM (1520); Brian Brinkley (play-by-play) & Tara Robinett (analyst). All broadcasts also are available through the OU athletics web site.
TV: Fox Sports Net
Rankings: OU is ranked 17th in the AP poll and 19th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls ... CU is ranked 13th in both polls (as of March 1).
Web Site: Oklahoma (www.SoonerSports.com), Colorado (www.cubuffs.com)

PROBABLE STARTERS
OKLAHOMA (20-8, 9-7 BIG 12)                                      PPG    RPG
10   F   Caton Hill (6-1, Sr., Ada, Okla.)                             12.7     6.0
24   F   Leah Rush (6-1, Fr., Amarillo, Texas)                      8.1    4.6
34   G   Erin Higgins (5-9, Fr., Oklahoma City, Okla.)           6.7    2.3
35   G   Dionnah Jackson (5-9, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.)              11.8    6.0
05   G Maria Villarroel (5-9, Sr., Margarita, Venezuela)    14.3    5.8

COLORADO (22-6, 11-5 BIG 12)                                      PPG   RPG
02 F Amber Metoyer (5-10, So., Boulder, Colo.)                    6.2    5.1
54 F Randie Wirt (6-2, Sr., New Prague, Minn.)                   10.2    8.0
50 C Tera Bjorklund (6-5, Sr., St. Peter, Minn.)                    18.3    7.9
01 G Kate Fagan (5-9, Sr., Schenectady, N.Y.)                   13.2    3.4
04 G Emily Waner (5-8, Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.)             7.3    1.7

LAST TIME OUT VS. COLORADO
Maria Villarroel scored a season-best 28 points, Dionnah Jackson had 12 points and dished out a career-best 11 assists while No. 24 Oklahoma upset 13th-ranked Colorado 78-58 Wednesday night in Norman.

Villarroel hit 11 of 15 shots, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and had seven rebounds and five assists. Caton Hill added 15 points, Erin Higgins 12 and Leah Rush 11 as the starters provided all of the scoring for Oklahoma.

Tera Bjorklund scored 19 points to lead Colorado, which also got 11 points from Kate Fagan and 11 rebounds from Randie Wirt. The Buffaloes have lost three of four following a six-game winning streak.

Oklahoma led 34-30 at halftime, then pulled away with a 15-6 run to start the second half. Hill scored the final eight points in the run with two 3-pointers and two free throws.

The Sooners extended their lead to 57-41 before Colorado started chipping away. The Buffaloes got as close as 64-57 after Bjorklund hit two free throws to cap an 8-0 spurt.
But the Sooners stormed back, scoring 14 of the game's final 15 points. Oklahoma held Colorado without a basket goal for the final 4:42.

Oklahoma dominated the backboards and kept Colorado from scoring second-chance baskets. The Sooners had 27 defensive rebounds, and allowed the Buffaloes just four offensive rebounds.

Overall, the Sooners outrebounded Colorado 35-23. Both teams had 17 turnovers, but Oklahoma had 23 assists on 28 baskets.

SOONERS CONCLUDE DAY 1 OF BIG 12 ACTION
Oklahoma handed Texas A&M a 60-47 loss Tuesday night to conclude round one of the 2004 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament in Dallas, Texas. OU-TAM was the final game of the four-game slate on opening day.

OU is now 7-6 in Big 12 Tournament play and have played on opening day for the second consecutive year.

HILL HAS STRONG 2ND HALF VS. AGGIES
Senior Caton Hill scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the second half vs. Texas A&M Tuesday. The Ada, Okla., native 20-point performance marked the second time this season and 15th in her OU career of scoring 20-or-more points in a single game.

Hill has scored 10-or-more points 88 times in her career and has had double digits in rebounds 41 times.

JACKSON'S AMONG SINGLE SEASON BEST
Junior Dionnah Jackson swiped three steals in OU's opening game vs. Texas A&M to push her season total to 69, ranking 14th best on OU's single season chart for most steals. Jackson's 40 minutes against the Aggies also pushed her up to No. 4 for most minutes played in a season.

TERRIFIC TRIO
Oklahoma's trio of seniors Maria Villarroel and Caton Hill plus junior Dionnah Jackson have been OU's bread and butter this season. The threesome accounts for 38.8 ppg (54%) and 17.7 rpg (43%) for the Sooners

In 23 of 28 games, at least one of them has led OU in scoring and in 21 games one has been the top rebounder.

Against Texas A&M Tuesday, the trio accounted for 76.7 percent of the Sooners' scoring (46 of 60 points) and 58.3 (21 of 36 rebounds) percent of the team's rebounds.

HILL PLAYS IN 20TH POST SEASON GAME
Tuesday's opening round game against Texas A&M marked senior Caton Hill's 20th post season start, the most of any Sooner. The 6-1 forward has appeared in eight Big 12 Tournament games as well as 12 NCAA Championship games.

Former Sooners Stacey Dales-Schuman and LaNeishea Caufield started 19 post season games.

DRIVES, DISHES, SCORES
Junior Dionnah Jackson accounts for 35.9 percent of OU's made field goals and assists. While driving to the basket, she has scored 118 field goals and dished out 146 assists in 28 games.

TWO-MINUTE STRETCH
Oklahoma sports a 67.5 free throw percentage in the final two minutes of the game. The Sooners have hit 60-of-86 attempted free throws down the stretch. Seniors Caton Hill and Maria Villarroel are perfect from the stripe in the final 120 seconds.

When playing Texas Tech, OU is a solid 80.0 from the stripe, hitting 20-of-25 foul shots down the stretch.

Top Performances Under the Two-Minute Mark
Players                    FTM    FTA    Pct.
Caton Hill                  20         20     1.000
Maria Villarroel           7          7     1.000
Dionnah Jackson      18         24      .750
Leah Rush                 5           7       .714
Kendra Moore           3            4       .750

OU'S BIG 12 TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Tuesday Oklahoma set or match seven OU Big 12 Tournament team and individual records including a few not so favorable; most turnovers by the Sooners with 26, fewest offensive rebounds (8) and matched fewest points in a first half (23).

In addition, the Sooners held the Aggies to an opponent tournament low 47 points and six assists but allowed A&M to collected an opponent tournament high 14 steals and saw one technical foul.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners face Colorado in Quarterfinals of Big 12 Tournament Wednesday

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