Women's Basketball Prepares for Arizona

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Oklahoma is hoping to put a rocky regular season behind it, preparing to face Arizona in the first round of the Chattanooga Regional.

The eighth-seeded Sooners are optimistic that the level of competition in the Big 12 will have them ready after finishing in a sixth-place tie with Nebraska with an 8-8 conference mark.

``I think it's a new start,'' Oklahoma forward Leah Rush said. ``Everybody's 0-0. No wins, no losses. And we have just as good a shot as anybody.''

Oklahoma lost three of its last five games to put itself in jeopardy of not receiving an NCAA bid. But the strength of the Big 12 and impressive wins over Kansas State and Utah were enough to sway the selection committee.

Oklahoma NCAA Tournament Central

Now the question is whether the Sooners can turn around their fortunes after the recent string of disappointing play, which included a 72-36 loss at Texas on Feb. 26.

``You just never know,'' Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. ``That's one of the things that makes this event the premier event in sports. That's why so many people get all infatuated with it. Absolutely anything can happen.''

Oklahoma is counting on first team All-Big 12 selection Dionnah Jackson to provide much of the offense. The versatile guard averages 14.5 points and has produced 10 double-doubles this season.

Arizona enters under similar circumstances to Oklahoma after finishing fifth in the Pac-10. The Wildcats have lost two straight and six of 10.

``The selection committee really rewarded us for our non-conference schedule and for playing in a tough conference,'' Arizona coach Joan Bonvicini said.

The Wildcats feature one of the country's top scoring duos in Dee-Dee Wheeler and Shawntinice Polk, who rank second and fourth, respectively, on the school's all-time scoring list. Wheeler is averaging 17.8 points and Polk chips in with 12.9 per game.

Arizona is trying to avoid dropping a first-round game for the third straight year. The Wildcats had never lost their opener in four previous NCAA appearances before the last two seasons.

The Wildcats beat the Sooners 75-59 on Nov. 19, 1999 in Honolulu in the only previous meeting between the teams.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Arizona - F Danielle Adefaso (6.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg), C Polk (12.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Natalie Jones (9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Wheeler (17.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.4 apg), G Jessica Arnold (8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Oklahoma - F Rush (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), F Lauren Shoush (6.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg), G Erin Higgins (9.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg), G Britney Brown (1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg), G Jackson (14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.8 apg).

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Arizona - At-large berth, Pac-10. Oklahoma - At-large berth, Big 12.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD
Arizona - 5-6, 7 years. Oklahoma - 12-7, 8 years.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Women's Basketball Prepares for Arizona

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