Sooners Make Second Trip to The Pit

NORMAN, Okla. -- So far the most daunting portion of the Oklahoma non-conference schedule hasn't been too kind to the women's basketball team. The 20th-ranked Sooners (9-3) will attempt to change their fortunes, and in the process become the first non-conference team since 1975 to defeat New Mexico (9-2) on its home court twice in the same season, when the squads meet at The Pit on Friday at 8 p.m. CST.

On Nov. 16, the Sooners snapped the Lobo's 16-game home winning streak with a 74-63 win in the semifinal round of the Preseason WNIT. Oklahoma was led by Courtney Paris' 26 points and 18 rebounds, while Leah Rush's 12 second half points were also crucial. New Mexico forward Dionne Marsh started slow but was able to keep the Lobo's close with a team-high 23 points. After establishing a 13-point first half lead, New Mexico cut the Sooners advantage to one-point at the half. The Sooners started the half with an 11-2 run and carried at least a three-basket lead the rest of the way.

Game Notes | Live Stats | Nov. 16, 2005: OU 74, UNM 63

New Mexico is off to a 9-2 start with their only other loss coming in Tempe to Arizona State (73-61). The Lobos have impressive wins over Texas (in Austin) and Minnesota (in Albuquerque). The one common opponent between OU and UNM so far this season is Oral Roberts, who the Lobos defeated by 17 in their season opener. OU beat the Golden Eagles by 31 points on Dec. 3. Also of note for New Mexico is a four-point (56-52) home victory over Oklahoma State on Nov. 26.

The Sooners have lost their last two games to Big Ten members Illinois and Michigan State. In both losses the Sooners failed to establish a consistent second scorer alongside Courtney Paris and struggled defensively. OU will attempt to remedy those problems in its third road game in the last four. It is also the Sooners' second consecutive ranked opponent and third in the last five games. After New Mexico, OU opens the Big 12 season with a Jan. 4 trip to Iowa State. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip off from Hilton Coliseum.

Setting The Scene
Date: Friday, Dec. 30, 2005
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Tipoff: 8 p.m. CST
Venue: University Arena “The Pit” (18,018)
TV: None
Webcast: Live Stats
Radio: KOKC (1520 AM)
Radio Talent: Bill Pink (Play-by-Play) & Tara DeGiusti
Tickets: (505) 925-5627

Player To Watch
Erin Higgins' four first half 3-pointers against New Mexico in the Preseason WNIT semifinal game on Nov. 16 helped OU establish a 35-34 halftime lead. Her sharp shooting also opened up the lane for Leah Rush and Courtney Paris, who combined for 27 second half points. On defense the junior captain will be responsible for New Mexico's third-leading scorer and most experienced player, Abbie Letz,. Letz, who left the Lobos' last game early with an apparent knee injury, is averaging 9.9 points, which is just above the nine points she scored in the first meeting with OU.

Sign of the Times - ONE
One is where All-America candidate Courtney Paris ranks nationally in double-doubles with nine this season. Paris is also No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring (22.2), rebounding (14.7), offensive rebounds (5.33), defensive rebounds (9.33) and blocked shots (3.33).

Michigan State Leftovers
Michigan State scored first and never looked back in a top-25 that never materialized into a close battle. OU trailed 24-20 with 4:11 remaining but a 10-0 run to end the half essentially sealed the 80-60 loss.

Neither squad could stop the others leading scorer. For OU, Courtney Paris had 29 points (23 in the second half) and 21 rebounds. She is averaging 20 rebounds in the Sooners last four contests.

For MSU, player of the year candidate Liz Shimek scored 25 (18 in the first half) and grabbed 14 rebounds.

The difference in the game was the establishment of secondary scorers for the Spartans, who had three others in double figures. The Sooners had no one beside Paris.

OU shot 28 percent (20-72) from the field, while MSU shot 46 percent (32-70).

Notes
The attendance at Lloyd Noble was 8,727, which is the third largest pre-January home crowd in OU history.

Courtney Paris collected her ninth double-double, which is the highest mark in the NCAA.

Paris set career highs with six blocks, 11 made free throws and 18 free throw attempts.

Paris started off sluggish from the free throw line, shooting 0-for-5, but made 11-of-18 on the game, a career best in both attemts and makes. She was one attempt shy of the school record, set by Erin Schreiber in 1981.
Tis The Season
Sherri Coale didn't expect there to be any Christmas gifts on OU's non-conference schedule this season. Yet it is unlikely that she expected the December slate to this tenuous.

The combined winning percentage of OU's December opponents entering the respective contests is 74 percent (31-11). Three teams, including New Mexico have been ranked and four of the contests are away from Norman.

Fan Support At Record Levels
Off to a 9-3 start and ranked No. 20, the Oklahoma women's basketball team is enjoying record support from Sooner fans this season.

Season tickets sales are at an all-time high with 4,000-plus packages already sold. In mid-October the fan support helped OU race past the previous record of 3,512 season tickets, which was set the season (2002-03) after OU reached its first Final Four. It took only a few weeks for the sales to surpass 4,000 and set a new standard for Sooner support.

The season ticket sales have helped OU set an attendance record this season. All five of OU's regular season home games this season have been attended by 5,000 or more fans. It marks the first time in OU history that it has drawn 5,000-plus for more than three pre-January games. Additionally, the Sooners turnout of 8,727 for the game with Michigan State was the third highest pre-January turnout in program history. Currently, OU is ranked No. 12 nationally in average attendance.

The women's hoops team is also receiving record support from fans that can't make it out to the arena. Some 200-plus viewers tuned into the O-Zone's live webcast of the Dec. 5 game against No. 22 UCLA. It marked a record turnout for any event, regardless of sport, for the O-Zone, which is the premium pay-site connected to SoonerSports.com.

New Mexico Tidbits
New Mexico has won seven of eight games since losing to Oklahoma in its third contest of the season. Powered by wins over top-25 teams Texas and Minnesota, the Lobos have raced up to No. 16 in Associated Press Poll. The ranking is the highest in school history.

Under the direction of head coach Don Flanagan, the Lobos have accumulated a 226-96 (.702) record in 11 seasons. Flanagan has guided his teams to three regular season conference championships and four conference tournament championships.

The 2005-06 team is led by sophomore forward Dionne Marsh, who is averaging a team-high 16.5 points per game. Marsh rebounded from a rough stretch to begin the season by pouring in 23 points against OU.

Guiding the Lobo effort is junior point guard Katie Montgomery, who is averaging 40.3 minutes per game. Her average surpassed a full game when she played all 55 minutes in UNM's triple overtime win over New Mexico State on Dec. 22.

Outside of their loss to Arizona State, the Lobos biggest test in the last six weeks was in their last contest against New Mexico State. The Aggies forced the game into three overtimes before clutch free throws by Jana Francis and Marsh quelched the potential upset.

Since OU snapped New Mexico's 16-game home winning streak on Nov. 16, the Lobos have won five straight at The Pit.

All-time OU leads the series 5-2 and is 2-1 in Albuquerque. The Nov. 16 meeting in Albuquerque was the first of the Sherri Coale era. Prior to that contest the most recent meeting was during the 1995-96 season when UNM won 82-75 on its home court.

Board Work
Oklahoma is the top team in the Big 12 in terms of rebounding margin at +12.0. OU is averaging 44.8 rebounds per game as compared to the opponents 32.8. In 12 games, OU has out-rebounded opponents by a minimum of 14 boards on six occasions, including four of the last seven contests. The season high was a +36 effort against SMU. Connecticut and Michigan State are the only teams to out-rebound the Sooners this season.

Preston Makes First Of Two Trips Home
The Sooners game with New Mexico will be a second homecoming for Albuquerque native Beky Preston. The senior attended LaCueva High School where she averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. She was named the 2002 New Mexico State Player of the Year and earned USA Today All-America Honorable Mentions honors during her final prep season. Preston is averaging 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds this season.

The Moore The Better
Junior point guard Kendra Moore has played more minutes, 139 to be exact, in the last four games than any stretch in her career. Those minutes have never been more efficient for the Ardmore native, who has dished out 25 assists and 11 turnovers for a 2.3 assist -to-turnover ratio.

Moore dropped career-bests of eight assists on Oral Roberts and No. 22 UCLA, as well as setting personal best in points (13) and minutes (33) against the Bruins.

Moore was playing 19+ minutes a game before the recent four-game stretch.

Hot Start for Higgins
Erin Higgins has already knocked down 31 three-pointers this season and is shooting 43 (31-72) percent from long distance. The hot start is in contrast to last season when she started the season by making 11 of her first 50 attempts (22 percent).

There are a number of factors behind her improved accuracy. Perhaps the biggest effect has been the open space created by OU's inside game. Higgins also believes she has become a more consistent shooter, while Coach Coale credits her improved dribble and drive ability. Higgins has hit a number of bombs off the dribble, a skill she polished during the off-season.

Higgins is racing up the OU career 3-point charts and is within striking distance of the record. Currently, she is ranked No. 2 with 165 makes and only trails Etta Maytubby (174). Higgins is also second in career attempts (431) and fourth in percentage (.381). The complete career list is available on page three of this release.

Records Set
Below are the records that freshman Courtney Paris has set in 12 games:
* The fastest player to 100 and 200 points in OU history, she needed five games to eclipse the century mark and 10 to reach 200.
* The fastest player to 100 rebounds in OU history, she needed nine games to reach the century mark.
* Set an OU freshman single game record with 22 rebounds against UCLA.
* Owns the best 10-game freshman scoring average, 21.0, in OU history (previous was 13.2 by Angie Guffy, 1991-92).
* Owns the best 10-game freshman rebounding average, 13.6, in OU history (previous was 8 by Angie Guffy, 1991-92).
* Set an OU record by becoming the first player to record a double-double in the first three games of her career.
* Set an OU record by becoming the first player to score 10 or more points in the first 12 games of their career.
* Set an OU record by recording double figure rebounds in the first three games of her career.
* Owns the fifth-best single season block total with 40 blocks.
* Set an OU freshman debut record with 24 points in the opener against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
* Set a Preseason WNIT single game record with 20 rebounds in the second round game against SMU. Also set the tournament rebound record with 54 total boards in four games.
* No. 15 on the OU career double-double list with nine.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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