Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #23 Alabama on February 15, 2026 , Win , 79, to, 71
Final
Women's Basketball
79
at #23 Alabama
71
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Women's Hoops Appears In Two Top-25 Polls
October 05, 2005 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. -- Numerous preseason publications are hitting the news stands and the Oklahoma women's basketball team is among those receiving preseason praise. The Sooners are ranked No. 20 in the preseason poll announced by Lindy's while also landing at No. 23 in Athlon Sports.
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 in the country.
OU 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.
Six of OU's regular season opponents are ranked in the Lindy's poll and five were recognized by Athlon Sports.
For single game or season ticket information please call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-GoOU.
Athlon Sports
1. LSU
2. Duke
3. Ohio State
4. Tennessee
5. Georgia
6. North Carolina
7. Baylor
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State
10. Connecticut
11. Rutgers
12. Texas
13. Maryland
14. Texas Tech
15. Notre Dame
16. USC
17. NC State
18. Arizona State
19. Utah
20. Arizona
21. DePaul
22. Minnesota
23. OKLAHOMA
24. Purdue
25. Florida State
Lindy's
1. Duke
2. Tennessee
3. Rutgers
4. Georgia
5. Baylor
6. North Carolina
7. Ohio State
8. Connecticut
9. Michigan State
10. LSU
11. Stanford
12. Texas
13. Maryland
14. Purdue
15. Vanderbilt
16. UCLA
17. Texas Tech
18. Notre Dame
19. Minnesota
20. OKLAHOMA
21. USC
22. Utah
23. Temple
24. Arizona State
25. NC State
Jennie Baranczyk, Payton Verhulst, and Raegan Beers Postgame vs South Carolina
Saturday, March 28
Jennie Baranczyk, Sahara Williams, Aaliyah Chavez, and Raegan Beers Media Availability - 3/27/26
Friday, March 27
WBB Highlights: OU 77, Michigan State 71
Sunday, March 22
Jennie Baranczyk, Raegan Beers, and Payton Verhulst Postgame vs Michigan State
Sunday, March 22
