UConn Joins OU in WNIT Championship

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 22 Oklahoma women's basketball team will travel to No. 7 Connecticut for the Preseason WNIT Championship Game on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. EST. The game will take place at the Gampel Pavilion on the UConn campus in Storrs.

UConn reached the title game with a 60-46 defeat of Boston College on Wednesday evening. Leading scorer Ann Strother carried the load with 11 points and six rebounds. Charde Houston also contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.

The title game is a rematch of the 2002 National Championship Game when the Sooners fell to the Huskies by a score of 82-70. OU has lost five all-time meetings with UConn. In the most recent meeting, during the 2003 Hawaiian Islands Rainbow Wahine Classic, the Huskies triumphed 73-60.

“We are excited,” said OU head coach Sherri Coale. “This is the reason we accepted an offer to play in the Preseason WNIT. We have a championship opportunity and UConn will be a tremendous challenge. We will have to be at the top of our game because UConn is a very talented squad with a tremendous coach.”

The Sooners will hold an open practice from 1-3 p.m. on Friday afternoon before flying to Hartford. OU plans on practicing Saturday morning in Storrs before heading to Bristol, Conn. to visit the ESPN studios in the afternoon.

Coale, along with junior Leah Rush and twin freshmen Ashley and Courtney Paris participated in a media session on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the title game.

Below are quotes from the session:

OU Advances | UConn Too | Preseason WNIT | Season Stats

Freshman center Courtney Paris
On the team's strengths:
“I think we've played really well in the tournament. In every game, there's another element that's added to our team. It's mostly toughness. It especially showed in last night's game when everything was against us, and we still came out strong and never let them take the lead once. That was big for us, and it was a big win.”

On the possibility of playing Connecticut:
“UConn would be a very exciting game. They're established, and they've done a lot of great things like winning national championships, which we're hoping to do. It will be a great test for our team and a great experience. It would be awesome to duke it out with some great players.”

On how the team needs to improve:
“There are definitely a lot of things we need to work on just because it's the beginning of the season and since we're a new team. Coach Coale would definitely say that we need to work on boxing out and rebounding. Toughness and working on defense will decide a lot of things for us. We have so many offensive options, whether it's throwing it inside, having Leah (Rush) taking it to the basket or having Erin (Higgins) hit a long three.”

On playing top teams so early in her career:
“You watch these teams play, no matter where you live. You hear about UConn all the time. It's a really great experience to be able to play teams like this at the beginning of my freshman year.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Freshman forward Ashley Paris
On the team's performance:
“So far, we've done a great job of playing together as a team. Playing together will help us a lot and having our captains step up when they need to. I think we'll be fine if we just do the little things.”

On playing at New Mexico:
“It was crazy. We've had an unrealistic feeling after playing at home our first games. Going there and having a bunch of people not on your side is a lot different. But I think it was good for us.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Junior forward Leah Rush
On the team's performance:
“I'm pleased with how we're playing. In early games, you can always tell a lot about your team about where you need to improve, what you're good at and what you can capitalize on every time. After this game, we're going to know even more about our team.”

On the look of the team:
“We haven't had dominant post players like Courtney and Ashley (Paris) before. It's a different look. We still do our motions, and we're good at that. But we're seeing more zones this year, so we're working on zone offenses by just moving Courtney, Ashley and me inside.”

On the benefits of playing in the Preseason WNIT:
“It's good exposure, and it's good preparation for later in the season by getting this type of tournament atmosphere this early. It really sets you up and gives you an edge on opponents later in the year.”

On the team's strengths:
“We're good together. Everybody knows their role and understands that. You can't focus on any one person because if you do, somebody else is going to score points. We have the Paris twins, solid shooters, great point guards and great swingmen. We have a lot of the pieces, and I don't think you could have said that in past years.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Head coach Sherri Coale
On the team's performance in the tournament:
“I have been very pleased, particularly with our starts. We've played with poise. Our defense has been a little better than I expected it would be this early. We have held a considerable margin on the boards. I've been pleased with the way we've had different players rise to the occasion and contribute in different games.”

On what the team needs to work on:
“We turn it over a little too much, and we've had some really shaky offensive possessions where it turned out okay and were able to hit a shot deep in the clock, but our execution hasn't been very sound. Particularly, it happens when we see changing defenses. Much of that has to do with being early in the year. The more we're on the floor together, the better we'll be with that. That's something that has to be worked on.”

On the team's camaraderie:
“It's a special bunch right now. Chemistry is one of those things that you cultivate every single day. You have to be conscientious about it, and it has to be important to you. Right now, I can't imagine that it could be much better. The goal for us is to make sure that it stays this way.”

On the personnel for Boston College and Connecticut:
“I don't know too much about Boston College because we don't have tape on them yet. I know a little bit more about Connecticut because I'm more familiar with Geno (Auriemma) and his players. Connecticut has really good pieces, and they have talented players. It feels like Barbara Turner has been there for 15 years. I had an opportunity to coach Ann Strother in USA Basketball in 2001 just before she went to Connecticut. Charde Houston is one of the most talented players in the country. Their freshman, Renee Montgomery, is running the point for them. They just have a lot of talent, a high degree of athleticism and a great coach.”

On the benefits of playing in the Preseason WNIT:
“This is why you say yes to the WNIT. It is not an easy event to be involved in from an administrative standpoint. There's a lot of uncertainty because you don't know who is playing where or when, and it's been difficult. But you do it to have these competitive opportunities. We can't put a price tag on the experience of going to New Mexico and playing in The Pit so early in the season. We would still be sitting on the eve of an exhibition game wondering who we are and what we're about. But because we are in this event, we know a whole lot about our basketball team. It has reflected already in the rankings. We went from No. 25 to No. 22 after the first two games, and we'll probably go up again regardless of what happens on Sunday. It's one of those competitive opportunities that when it is presented to you, you say yes.”

On the Paris twins' performances:
“I don't know that it would be possible for them to exceed my expectations. The only people who might have higher expectations of them than me are themselves. They have obviously been dominant. They have affected the way teams have to defend and prepare for us. They have changed the complexion of the game. What I've been most pleased about is the way the players around them have made them fit. We have played very well together. We have complimented one another, and we play off of each other. To be quite frank, I didn't know that it would develop this quickly. I've been really pleased with the on-the-court chemistry, which is very often a reflection of the off-the-court chemistry as well.”

“Courtney's numbers in particular are ridiculous. I don't know that I ever even had a tangible expectation of what I wanted those numbers to be. I did tell her before the year that if she didn't average a double-double, she was at fault, and so was I. There's no reason that she shouldn't have that every time out.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors