Sooners Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Big 12 Conference announced the results of its annual coaches preseason poll Thursday morning and the Oklahoma women's basketball team was picked to finish in fourth place. The Sooners received 91 votes, which landed them behind defending national champion Baylor (113 votes), Texas (110) and Texas Tech (108).

It marks the second time in the last three seasons that OU has been picked fourth in the preseason poll. The Sherri Coale led squad was slated fifth last season.

In its ninth year of existence, the conference's preseason poll has only accurately predicted the eventual winner on two occastions, 1997-98 (Kansas) and 2001-02 (Oklahoma).

2005-06 Schedule | PDF | Basketball Ticket Information

“I wonder sometimes if everyone struggles in ordering our 12 teams the way I do,” said Coale. “The league is so strongfrom top to bottomit's difficult to differentiate, particularly with so many young, talented players making their debut.

"My immediate reaction is: we're picked fourth overall but we're also picked fourth in our division (Big 12 South). To be picked fourth in this company is actually quite a compliment, however, fourth is certainly not the goal.”

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.

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.

Two other notable dates are also on the horizon. The Big 12 will announce the Preseason All-Big 12 Team on Oct. 18. On the following day Coale, Rush, Higgins and Courtney Paris will travel to Dallas for Big 12 Media Day.

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

2005-06 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Baylor (6): 113
2. Texas (2): 110
3. Texas Tech (4): 108
4. Oklahoma: 91
5. Nebraska: 70
6. Kansas: 66
7. Texas A&M: 59
8. Kansas State: 56
9. Iowa State: 45
10. Missouri: 37
11. Oklahoma State: 23
12. Colorado: 14

Notes: First place votes in parentheses, coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors