Paris on Final Wooden Award Ballot

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma freshman center Courtney Paris is among the 18 student-athletes that were named to the official national voting ballot for the 2005-06 Women's Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate basketball player.

A panel of over 200 voters comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from around the nation will have until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, March 27 to cast their votes for both the five-member All-American Team and Wooden Award recipient as the most outstanding women's collegiate basketball player in the United States. The Wooden Award opts for the March 27 deadline because it allows voters to evaluate players up until the Final Four has been determined.

In order to be considered for the National Ballot, all players must have been accredited by their university as meeting the Wooden Award criteria which includes making normal progress towards graduation and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. It should be noted that all players on the national ballot were deemed eligible as meeting the Wooden Award academic requirements.

Championship Central

Paris is the only true freshman on the list. The Dallas Morning News Big 12 Player of the Year leads the nation in rebounds (445) and rebounding average (14.8), while ranking the top-10 among all Division I players in field goal percentage (.607), blocks (.333) and scoring (20.9). Paris also leads the country with 27 double-doubles, including 22 consecutive.

Top-seeded OU (26-4 overall, 16-0 Big 12) will play Iowa State (15-11, 6-9) in the second round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Wednesday, March 8 at Noon CST. The Sooners have earned a bye in the first round, which is taking place today at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

The quarterfinal game will be broadcast nationally by Fox Sports Net with Bill Land on play-by-play and Brenda VanLengen on color commentary.

The Championship returns to Dallas for the third time in four years (2003-04, 06). Six different teams have won the nine Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships. Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech have two titles each while Baylor, Colorado and Texas have one. Defending national champ Baylor claimed its first conference tournament championship at the '05 event at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium.

Tickets are still available through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 214-373-8000. Tickets will also be sold at Reunion Arena beginning Monday. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (CST) Monday and Friday and 10 a.m. to halftime of the last game on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, tickets are available at the American Airlines Center box office. Prices for single session tickets are $15 for reserved and $10 for general admission.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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