OU Womens Basketball Set For NCAA Action

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Big 12 Tournament champions and 13th-ranked Oklahoma women's basketball team will face Marist College in the opening round of the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship as announced Sunday by the selection committee. The two teams will face each other on Saturday, March 20, inside the Wells Fargo Arena located on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.

The winner will advance in the NCAA subregional to face either sixth-seed Stanford (24-6) or 11th-seed Missouri (17-12) on Monday, March 22.

NOTE: Game times and television status will be announced by the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee on Monday, March 15.

Printable Bracket (PDF)

OU earned a No. 3 seed with an overall record of 23-9 and winners of six of its last seven games, including four wins over higher ranked opponents. This will be the Sooners fifth straight and seventh overall NCAA appearance.

Marist College, a 14th-seed, enters the tournament with an overall record of 20-10 and winners of the MAAC Tournament's automatic bid (Metro Atlantic Athletic). They finished the regular season tied for first place with a conference record of 13-5. Head coach Brian Giorgis, who's in his second season, has guided the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Red Foxes are led by senior Stephanie Del Preore, who is averaging 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.

OU became the first team to win the Big 12 Tournament title by playing four games in five days. OU has to be considered one of the hottest teams in the country after beating Texas A&M, No. 13 Colorado, No. 8 Kansas State and No. 2 Texas en route to the Big 12 title. Head Coach Sherri Coale's squad is led by senior guard Maria Villarroel, who is averaging 14.6 points per game, and senior forward Caton Hill, who averages 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. Junior point guard Dionnah Jackson is the team leader with 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while averaging 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Missouri is making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers are 4-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

Stanford won both the Pac-10 regular-season and tournament titles, and is making its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Tara VanDerveer.

For the latest on sites, dates, TV coverage, and for printable brackets, visit www.FinalFour.net.

QUOTES -- Head Coach Sherri Coale
Being a No. 3 seed:
We're very excited about it and thought we had earned it after the week we had in Dallas. But, it doesn't matter, we're just excited an ready to go play.

Location and Draw:
I think it's (Tempe, Ariz.) lovely this time of the year. It's a lot better than going to Minneapolis. The weather should be nice.

Marist College, Marist University, I don't know. I know that it's in New York and that's about all I know right now. We'll get on the computer, get some game film and figure it out.

Surprises about bracket:
I'm a little surprise that there is another Big 12 team in there (with us), Missouri, with the potential to meet them in the second round. Stanford, a tough draw, but a team we have beaten in the past en route to going deeper into the NCAA Tournament. I don't really care who comes down the road right now, I just want to work on that first one.

No. 1 seeds
I was a little bit surprised that Penn State got a No. 1 seed with five losses but they are a very good and dangerous team. Connecticut has been a No. 1 seed enough that they're looking for a reason to not give them the one seed. I not sure Penn State gains much by being a No. 1 seed in Hartford.

Big 12 teams:
I'm very pleased. It great that Missouri got in and that Texas maintained a No. 1 seed despite losing the conference tournament championship. K-State got a nice seed, Colorado's in and Baylor in at a four. We are very well represented.

Team Play:
We are playing very well right now, and with a great deal of confidence and a great deal of energy. This is the time of year you want to do that. We're ready to get back on the practice floor tomorrow and get everything ready before we go down to Tempe.

Oklahoma Senior Forward Caton Hill
On Marist:
Well, honestly, I don't know much about Marist. I'm excited to go to Tempe. I've never been there.

Like the draw:
I do. There is always someone on your side that's really good and you wish wasn't there but that's how it goes. We have Stanford and Missouri in our squad and I'm sure Marist is deserving of being in the tournament as well. If we can get past the first two games we get to come back to Norman for Regionals, not everyone has that luxury.

At this time of the year there's not an easy game. Our part of the bracket is no better or no worst than anyone else. I'm excited and the team is excited.

On Big 12 having 7 teams in:
I'm happy that Missouri got in. They're a great team. To have seven teams in is a reflection on how hard our conference is and why our records are what they are.

Oklahoma Junior Guard Dionnah Jackson
On Marist:
I'm sure they're a good team but right now we really don't know anything about them.

This time of the year every team is good. There are no easy games and we just have to take it one game at a time. So, we'll look at Marist and prepare for them like any other team we have played. I think we just take it one game at a time and just play Oklahoma basketball. That is what got us the wins in Dallas and that's what we'll have to keep doing.

On being in the tournament:
It's exciting and we are carrying so much momentum going into this tournament. We had a great week in Dallas.

Happy with No. 3 seed:
Most definitely! I think we deserve a No. 3 seed. We worked hard last week, won the conference tournament, won six of the last seven games and beat four ranked teams. We are playing really good basketball right now.

Advice to OU's younger players:
Enjoy it! This is the best time of the year for basketball. You just have to enjoy it because any game could be your last game.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Womens Basketball Set For NCAA Action

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