Women's Hoops Opens Camp on Saturday

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma women's basketball team will begin preseason preparations for the 2005-06 season with its first practice Saturday morning from 8-11 a.m. The Sherri Coale led squad will also practice for three hours on Sunday, before falling into a regular practice routine (12:30-3:30 p.m.) on Monday, Oct. 17.

All practices are open to the media and public unless otherwise noted.

“Our players have done a great job of taking care of their bodies during the off-season, whether it has been little nicks, dropping weight or general conditioning,” said Coale.

“Everyone has taken it upon themselves to get ready for the season and I think that will bode well for this team when camp opens later this week.”

“Having seen their commitment and having been around them since school started, really just wets your appetite for Oct. 15.”

2005-06 Schedule | PDF | OU Ticket Office

OU returns three starters, including leading-scorer Leah Rush, to a team that went 17-13 last season. The Sooners ended the 2004-05 campaign with an opening-round loss to Arizona in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season Rush averaged 15.5 points per game, fourth best among returning Big 12 players, while claiming second team All-Big 12 honors. The All-America candidate also ranked 15th in rebounds (6.3 ppg) and fourth in free throw percentage (.847).

Fellow juniors Erin Higgins and Britney Brown complete the trio of returning starters. Higgins improved her field goal and free throw percentages as a sophomore, which was a major factor in her 8.9 ppg. Brown only started six games last season but four of those came at the end of the season when she averaged 8.3 ppg, 5.3 apg and 3.0 rpg.

Also returning into the Sooner fold are Beky Preston (3.4 ppg), Laura Andrews (5.0 ppg), Antoinette Wadsworth (2.9 ppg), Krista Sanchez (3.4 ppg), Kendra Moore (2.0 ppg) and Chelsi Welch (5.9 ppg).

All totaled, the OU women's hoops team returns 67 percent of its scoring, 69 percent of its rebounding and 78 percent of its made 3-pointers.

A major influence on the preseason expectations of OU is the addition of freshmen Ashley (forward, 6-3) and Courtney Paris (center, 6-4). The twin sisters comprised the consensus No. 1 recruiting class.

OU, which has been ranked No. 20 and No. 23 by two preseason publications, begins their 2005-06 season with a home exhibition game against Oklahoma Christian on Nov. 3. The regular season will begin with the Preseason WNIT and opening-round opponent Wisconsin-Milwaukee at the Lloyd Noble Center on Nov. 11.

Several other notable dates are also on the horizon. The Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll will be announced on Thursday. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the conference will announce the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. On the following day Coale, Rush, Higgins and Courtney Paris will travel to Dallas for Big 12 Media Days.

For single game or season ticket information please view online at SoonerSports.com or call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-GoOU.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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