Bedlam Wraps Up Regular Season Action

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma (15-11, 7-8 Big 12) will be looking to extend its 12-game winning streak against Oklahoma State (7-18, 2-11) Thursday as the Sooners travel to Stillwater to wrap up the 2004-05 regular season. The two-game Bedlam Series is presented by the Bank of Oklahoma and Your Oklahoma Ford Dealers.

Tip time is set for 7 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena where the Cowgirls are 7-7 on the season and 2-5 in Big 12 play. OU is 4-5 and 3-4 in Big 12 play when away from the Lloyd Noble Center.

Thursday's game will be televised by Sooner Sports Network with Mark Rodgers (play-by-play) and Patty Phillips (analyst) calling the action. The Bedlam matchup can also be heard state wide on the Sooner Sports Radio Networks including KOKC-AM (1520). The game will be live on the O-Zone with OSU sharing the webcast.

Live O-Zone | Game Notes (PDF)

OU fans can purchase OSU single game tickets for just $8 for adult and $6 for youth and seniors.

Oklahoma (15-11, 7-8 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (7-18, 2-13 Big 12)

Date: Thursday, March 3, 2005
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Arena: Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
Tip: 7 p.m.
TV: Sooner Sports Network
   OKC- KAUT-UPN 43
   Tulsa - Cox 3
   Lawton - KSWO-7
   Woodward - KOMI-24
   Kansas City - Metro Sports- 30
    (Tape Delayed)
Radio: Sooner Sports Networks -
   KOKC (1520 AM)
Series: OU leads the all-time series,
   40-34.
Up Next: Oklahoma defends its 2004 Big 12 Tournament title starting Tues., March 8 in Kansas City.

BEDLAM SERIES
Oklahoma State currently leads the 2004-05 OU-OSU Bedlam series, 5-4.

See how the Sooners stack up against OSU in the Bedlam Series presented by the Bank of Oklahoma and Your Oklahoma Ford Dealers!

PROBABLE STARTERS
OKLAHOMA
24 F Leah Rush (6-1, So., Amarillo, Texas, 14.6ppg, 6.1 rpg)
35 G Dionnah Jackson (5-9, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., 14.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
34 G Erin Higgins (5-9, So., Oklahoma City, Okla., 8.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
11 G Laura Andrews (6-0, Jr., Washington, Okla., 5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
12 G Lauren Shoush (5-11, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla., 6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

OKLAHOMA STATE
05 F Destanie Sykes (6-0, So., Duncanville, Texas, 6.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
13 F Taleesha Conder (6-0, Fr., Alva, Okla., 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
15 C Christian Hood (6-5, So., Hutchinson, Kan., 6.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
11 G Devry McDonald (5-9, So., Beaver, Okla., 5.9, 2.9 rpg)
00 G Nina Stone (5-7, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., 14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

OKLAHOMA (15-11, 7-8 BIG 12)
Oklahoma suffered a pair of setbacks last week to No. 14 Texas Tech, 83-70, in Norman and No. 13 Texas, 72-36, in Austin. OU's 36-point loss to the Longhorns is the second worst under Sooner Coach Sherri Coale. Northern Arizona defeated OU by 39-points in 1997-98 (Dec. 30).

Between the two games, OU averaged just 53 points and 37 rebounds. The Sooners also shot just 30.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point line and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.

The last time OU put together two games like this was when the Sooners lost at Tulsa and TCU in December. OU averaged 62.0 ppg and 44.0 rpg but shot 35 percent from the field, 22.9 percent from the arc and 68.2 percent from the stripe.

OU enters Bedlam sitting in seventh-place in the Big 12 Conference standings (7-8), one game behind Nebraska. Of OU's eight conference losses, six were against three teams in the Big 12 South (Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech) and seven were against top 25 teams. OU also lost to nationally-ranked Iowa State.

Three of the Sooners' other four losses have come to teams who were ranked in the top 25 at some point during the season, including setbacks to Iowa and TCU. Oklahoma's only losses to unranked foes have been to Tulsa (Dec. 4) and Big 12 foe Nebraska (Feb. 6).

The Sooners have been led all season by either senior Dionnah Jackson or sophomore Leah Rush in scoring. This week, Jackson holds top honors with 14.8 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounds (8.3), assists (5.8) and steals (2.3) per game. Rush ranks second on the team with 14.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg.

Jackson is a finalist for the John R. Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year Awards as well as one of 10 finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year honors.

Rush also shoots a solid 83.7 percent from the free throw line, fifth best in the Big 12, and 44.9 percent from the field.

Erin Higgins, a 5-9 sophomore guard, has joined Rush and Jackson in the starting lineup for all 26 games this season, adding 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Higgins has been OU's top shooter from long range, hitting 57 of 153 three-pointers (37.3 percent); including 14 of 33 over the past five games (42.4 percent).

As a team, Oklahoma is averaging 68.8 points per game, while surrendering 62.1 ppg. The Sooners are shooting 41.7 percent from the field, and outrebounding their opponents by a slim +3.0 boards per game.

OKLAHOMA STATE (7-18, 2-13 BIG 12)
After suffering a 27-point loss in the first of the two-game series (J19), Oklahoma State bounced back to pick up its first Big 12 Conference win over Colorado in overtime, 76-70, three days later (J22) in Stillwater.

However, the Cowgirls have lost five straight, by an average of 24.2 ppg, and eight of their last 10 games placing them 11th in the Big 12 Conference standings at 2-13. Colorado is 12th with a 1-14 conference record. The two conference games OSU has won have taken place inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

OSU is coming off a 65-52 loss to No. 14 Texas Tech in Lubbock. In that game, the Cowgirls were led by 6-5 sophomore Christian Hood. Hood had a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds. OSU outrebounded Tech 40 to 31 but gave up the ball 16 times. The Lady Raiders also went to the foul line 20 times, hitting 17, to OSU's eight (making five).

For the season, senior Nina Stone tops the squad with 14.6 ppg and 5.0 rpg. The 5-7 guard is just one of two players that has started all 25 games for the Cowgirls. Stones leads the conference in minutes played per game, averaging 36.2.

Ranking second in scoring and rebounding is 6-0 freshman forward Taleesha Conder. Conder contributes 11.0 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Stone and Conder is OSU's one-two punch. Hood adds 6.9 ppg and 5.0 rpg.

OSU is averaging 58.4 ppg and 35.3 rpg, while shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from the arc.

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday will be the 75th meeting between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Sooners own an all-time series record of 40-34 when facing the Cowgirls. However, OSU holds a slim 16-15 advantage over OU when playing in Stillwater.

OSU coach Julie Goodenough is 0-5 against OU coach Sherri Coale. Coale is 14-5 all-time when playing Oklahoma State and has won 12 straight and 14 of the last 15 games. OU has also won the last six contests in Stillwater.

The last time OU lost to OSU was in the first round of the 1999 Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City (70-56).

HEAD COACHES
Sherri Coale (Oklahoma Christian, 1987) is in her ninth season as the head coach at Oklahoma. Coale has built an outstanding resume in that time, leading the Sooners to post season action the last six years, as well as one Final Four and three Big 12 regular-season titles. She has posted a 171-105 career record and coached in the national championship game in 2001-02, falling to undefeated Connecticut, 82-70. Since her arrival in 1996, more than 1 million fans have watched an OU women's basketball game. Before taking over the reigns of the OU program, Coale was the head coach at Norman High School from 1990-96, winning two Oklahoma 6A state titles in that time.

OSU is coached by Julie Goodenough (Texas-Arlington, 1991). Goodenough is in her third season has the Cowgirls head coach. Prior to OSU, she spent nine seasons Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Goodenough concluded her coaching career at HSU with a 188-54 record, making her the all-time winningest coach.

SOONER SENIORS
Seniors Dionnah Jackson and Lauren Shoush enter their last Bedlam matchup with a perfect 8-0 record. The duo has never lost to the Cowgirls or Kansas. They also sport a 4-1 record against Nebraska and an 8-1 record against Texas A&M, which could be OU's first round opponent in the Big 12 Tournament.

Jackson, who's started five of the eight games vs OSU, averages 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. She also boasts an impressive 65.4 field goal percentage (34-52) and 88.2 free throw percentage (15-17) against the Cowgirls.

Shoush has appeared in one starting lineup and averages 4.5 ppg and 2.8 rpg vs. OSU. She has played an average of 16.3 minutes per game over the last four outings.

OU DEFENDS TITLES
Oklahoma has a pair of Big 12 titles to defend starting next week.

OU won last year's Big 12 Tournament crown in Dallas by becoming the first team in tournament history to win four games in five days, upsetting three higher ranked opponents. Oklahoma also became the first program to win the tournament that wasn't one of the top four seeds. The Sooners were a sixth seed a year ago and will more than likely enter this year's tournament as a seventh seed.

In addition, Oklahoma was the last team to win the tournament title in Kansas City. OU will defend the 2002 tournament crown it won inside Municipal Auditorium as the top seed. The Sooners put on an impressive three-game run as OU's average margin of victory was +22 points.

Dionnah Jackson was the tournament's MVP a year ago after leading OU with 17 ppg. She was also named to the 2002 Big 12 All-Tournament team after averaging 12.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg. Jackson scored a then-career best 23 points against Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals.

IN SEARCH OF 500TH PROGRAM WIN
Oklahoma is FIVE wins shy of reaching its 500 career victory. The 31-year old women's basketball program has 495 wins.

RPI RANKINGS
In this week's WBCA/Summerville RPI Rankings, Oklahoma moved to No. 39 in the RPI Rankings and the Sooners' strength of schedule jumped to seventh best in the country.

WHAT HAVE U DONE 4 ME LATELY?
The Sooners have been playing better transition basketball and more aggressive defense. OU has averaged 74.2 points and 31.8 rebounds per game over four games. Oklahoma has also regained its shooting touch, hitting 7.2 three-pointers per game, and hitting 48.0 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from the three-point line.

Also during this time frame, the Sooners have four players averaging double digits scoring led by sophomore forward Leah Rush's 15.5 points per game. Senior Dionnah Jackson and Erin Higgins contributes 14.8 and 10.8 ppg, respectively. Junior Laura Andrews has added 10.3 ppg and Lauren Shoush 9.0 ppg. Jackson has also led the team in rebounding (5.5) and assists (5.5) per game.

Head coach Sherri Coale said earlier in the season in order for OU to be successful, the Sooners would have to have a third and fourth contributing offensively.

JACKSON'S CLIMBING OU'S & BIG 12 RECORD CHARTS
Senior Dionnah Jackson continues to move up in numerous OU career categories. The 5-9 point guard broke into OU's all-time scoring and rebounding charts when she had 16 points and a career-best 15 rebounds against TCU (D9). Jackson ranks among OU's greats in 18 of 22 categories.

With a career-high 30 points against Baylor in Norman, Jackson moved into OU's all-time top 10 scoring list. She also ranks No. 2 on OU's all-time defensive rebounds list, surpassing Phylesha Whaley. Caton Hill holds the record with 745.

Possible Chart Moves for Jackson vs. Oklahoma State
Career:
Needs 5 rebounds for 5th
Needs 13 points for 9th
Needs 18 assists for 2nd

Single Season:
Needs 1 block for 11th and 2 for 10th
Needs 4 defensive rebounds for 9th and 5 for 7th (tying both of her previous seasons best)
Needs 6 assists for 7th
Needs 11 offensive rebounds for 15th
Needs 22 rebounds for 15th

Jackson is also climbing the Big 12 Conference all-time assists and steals charts. She currently ranks fifth and seventh, respectively.

SHOUSH STEPPING UP PRODUCTION
Senior Lauren Shoush has started eight games for the Sooners this season. In those eight outings, she's averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 4.1 rebounds per game. She has also hit 43.5 percent of her shots from the field and has made countless “effort” plays to spark Sooner runs.

At Texas, Shoush hit three of OU's four three-pointers (Jackson hit the other). However, she fouled out with 8:10 to play. She hit OU's only trey and one of four field goals of the second half.

SHARP SHOOTERS
Ten of OU's 13 players have stepped up to connect on a three-pointer this season. Junior Laura Andrews and sophomore Erin Higgins accounts for 50.3 percent of OU's treys, while the five starters are responsible for 124 of the team's 161 (77.0%) threes.

Andrews had been struggling from three-point range until the last five games. The 6-0 guard has connected on 7-of-17 attempted three-pointers (41.2%), shot 44.4 percent from the field (16-of-36) and averaged 8.2 points per game over the last five outings. Prior to this, Andrews was averaging 4.6 ppg, shooting 25.4 percent from the arc and 34.0 percent from the field.

Higgins was only able to connect on 11-of-49 three-pointers, 22.4 percent, for the first eight games. But, since having a breakout game on FSN against Louisiana Tech (D18), Higgins' hit 44.2 percent of her three-pointers, 46-for-104.

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