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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU vs. No. 1 Tennessee Thursday
November 15, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2007
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The Sooners are 0-2 all-time versus the Lady Vols. Oklahoma lost both games of a home-and-home series in 2003 (Knoxville) and 2004 (Norman).
OU looks to improve after a season-opening loss to No. 4 Maryland Sunday. UT defeated UT-Chattanooga, 76-56, in its opener.
The game will broadcast live on ESPNU featuring Beth Mowins calling play-by-play, Brooke Weisbrod as the color analyst and Melissa Knowles as the sideline reporter.
The contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (flagship KOKC AM-1520 in Oklahoma City) with Brian Brinkley and Tara DeGiusti announcing..
PREVIEWING TENNESSEE
Like OU's last opponent, the Maryland Terrapins, the No. 1 Tennessee Lady Vols return all but one starter on a team that won the national championship.
The game will featured the highly anticipated CP3 vs. CP3 battle as All-Americans Courtney Paris and Candace Parker face off for the first time in a collegiate game.
Pat Summitt is 948-180 (.840) in her 34th season as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, making her the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. UT won its seventh national title in 2007.
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PREVIEWING TENNESSEE
Like OU's last opponent, the Maryland Terrapins, the No. 1 Tennessee Lady Vols return all but one starter on a team that won the national championship.
The game will featured the highly anticipated CP3 vs. CP3 battle as All-Americans Courtney Paris and Candace Parker face off for the first time in a collegiate game.
Pat Summitt is 948-180 (.840) in her 34th season as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, making her the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. UT won its seventh national title in 2007.
PRESEASON PERFORMANCE
• Oklahoma is 17-0 in exhibition games since 2000.
• OU's exhibition opener versus Lake Truck in 2006-07 set an attendance record for an exhibition game with 9,023 fans.
• On Nov. 1, The Sooners routed NCAA Division II Henderson State 110-40 in front of 5,082 fans at the Lloyd Noble Center. The attendance was the fifth best in OU history for a women's exhibition game. The margin of victory (70) points, was two shy of OU's program record.
• On Nov. 6, The Sooners piled on points NAIA Division I Oklahoma Christian, 110-51, with an attendance of 5,172 -- the fourth best exhibition game attendance mark in program history.
SEASON TICKET UPDATE
As of Monday, Nov. 5, the OU Athletics Ticket Office had sold approximately 6,450 season ticket packages. The number is an increase of 250 at the same point last year and is just shy of the record 6,465 season tickets bought for OU women's basketball last season.
Though reserved level season tickets have sold out, general admission season tickets remain and fans are encouraged to purchase them prior to the start of the season. GA season tickets are available for $115. Group and single game tickets are now available.
Single game tickets for all home games are $8 for adults and $5 for youths (K-12).
The Oklahoma women's basketball team ranked No. 4 in attendance last season, averaging 10,437 fans. That was an increase of 37 percent from the 2005-06 season when Lloyd Noble Center games averaged 7,630.
Fans can purchase season tickets by calling th OU Ticket Office at (800) 456-GoOU or online at SoonerSports.com.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Since Britney Brown, Erin Higgins and Leah Rush -- the captains for the past two seasons -- have departed, new leaders must take control. The 2007-08 captains, as voted by team members, are Ashley Paris, Courtney Paris, Jenna Plumley and Amanda Thompson.
THE NATION'S TOUGHEST START
Oklahoma will play 11 regular-season games, among eight different teams, ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Preseason Coaches' Poll. That is not the toughest schedule in the nation as No. 1 Tennessee will look to earn its way back to the national title game with 12 games among 11 preseason Top 25 teams.
However, OU will face a tougher start than any other team in college basketball with its first three games among teams in the top 12, including No. 1 Tennesee and No. 4 Maryland -- the past two national champions. All three of these games will be played at neutral sites.
Player to Watch
RECAPPING MARYLAND
Oklahoma dropped its season opener, 76-66, to No. 4 Maryland in the State Farm Tipoff Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. Ashley Paris scored 17 points and freshman Danielle Robinson added 15.
Record Breaker
Courtney Paris' double-double record stayed intact when she recorded her 62nd consecutive double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds versus Maryland on Nov. 11. Paris has recorded an NCAA record 67 double-doubles in 70 career games.
With her seventh of 11 rebounds in the season opener, Paris passed Molly McGuire (1,071) for possession of OU's career rebounds record. Paris' rebounding record now stands at 1,075. The junior center averages 15.4 boards per game.
Ashley Paris' Career Game
In a battle between preseason All-Americans Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) and Courtney Paris (Oklahoma), it was the often underrated Ashley Paris who stole the show, scoring a career high 17 points while counting seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 36 minutes on the court. It was the first time Ashley, who has eight career starts, led the Sooners in scoring.
Twice as Nice
Having two Paris' on the court proved to be too much at times for the Terrapins with Courtney counting her 67th career -- and 62nd consecutive -- double-double and Ashley scoring a career best 17 points.
It was the first time Ashley led the Sooners in scoring (aside from her first career collegiate game, an exhibition contest versus Oklahoma Christian in 2005 where she netted 20 points and 23 rebounds.) Courtney has led the Sooners in scoring in 61 of her 70 career games.
Ashley, in her eighth career start, matched her career high with 36 minutes on the court and Courtney played 38 -- the most total minutes the two have shared.
It was the 19th time (seven games as freshmen, 11 as sophomores, one as juniors) both Parises scored in double figures.
The duo also combined for 28 points and 17 rebounds, marking the 52nd contest where they have combined for at least 25 points and 15 rebounds (26 as freshmen, 25 as sophomores, one as juniors).
Winning the Turnover Battle
After a season haunted by turnovers, head coach Sherri Coale made it one of her team's goals for this season to be in the top three in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Against Maryland, the Sooners counted 17 assists and 17 turnovers, but had 10 assists to just four turnovers in the second half. The Sooners also forced Maryland into 21 turnovers, and outscored the Terrapins in points off turnovers 32-26, including a 22-8 advantage in the final period.
Sooner point guards Jenna Plumley and Danielle Robinson each counted four assists to one turnover.
D-Robbing the Competition
Against Maryland, freshman guard Danielle Robinson (nickname: D-Rob) counted six of her 15 points the easy way, by converting all three of her steals into uncontested layups.
Second Chance Success
On the season, Oklahoma has converted 10 offensive rebounds into 10 points.
3-Point Fallout
The major statistical difference between the teams in OU's season-opening loss to Maryland was 3-point shooting, especially in the second half. After both teams drained three 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes, Maryland shot 4-for-8 from beyond the arc to finish the game. The Sooners were 0-of-8 from the 3-point line in the second half of a game differentiated by 10 points.
FRESHMAN FACTS
After losing six seniors, the OU women's basketball team should be expected to look and play much differently this season than past Sherri Coale-coached teams have played. However, while these freshmen are very talented and will make their names known quickly, they do draw comparisons to some familiar faces.
Danielle Robinson | 5-9 | G | San Jose, Calif.
Robinson was the Sooners' surprise pickup of the 2007 recruiting class. After acknowledging OU was off her radar until her official visit, Robinson made the decision to be a Sooner before she checked her bags for the return flight home. The speedy guard will see time both on and off the point and draws comparisons to Dionnah Jackson.
Carlee Roethlisberger | 6-1 | F | Findlay, Ohio
Having the third most recognizable surname speaks to the star power on the Sooners' roster. Yes, Carlee is the sister of Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben, but she may the family's best athlete. Roethlisberger is leanest Sooner and the one with the greatest ceiling in terms of untapped basketball potential. Her play resembles another lean forward in former Sooner Leah Rush.
Jenny Vining | 5-9 | G | Marshall, Ark.
This Arkansas high school star will remind fans of former Sooner Erin Higgins because of her 3-point range and accuracy, although Vining's may prove to be better in both cases. Head coach Sherri Coale says that Vining might be the best freshman she has ever coached because of her ability to quickly learn from mistakes and make correct adjustments in practice.
Lauren Willis | 5-11 | G | Overland Park, Kan.
Willis was an all-stater in Kansas and walked-on to the OU program. She has been a stellar defender in practice as was quite the spark in OU's preseason intrasquad scrimmage as she went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in limited action. Willis is the daughter of Steve Willis, a placekicker on Kansas State football's first ever bowl team, and the former Lois Groen, an All-American and Big Eight Conference track and field champion at Iowa State.
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SOONERS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN BIG 12 Texas A&M, the 2006-07 Big 12 co-champions with Oklahoma, received seven of 12 first-place votes to edge the Sooners, who received five first-place votes, in a split decision between the two teams. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team. PARIS PRESEASON BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE YEAR The 6-4 center, who averaged 23.5 points and 15.9 rebounds, was last season's Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Sooners to title defenses of the conference's regular season and tournament championships. Ashley Paris was an honorable mention for the All-Big 12 team. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SOONERSPORTS.COM BLOG
Even though she was out of the country, Courtney Paris kept everyone at home up to speed on her progress with USA Basketball via the OU Women's Basketball Blog on SoonerSports.com.
OU head coach Sherri Coale submits regular postings and this season several OU players will enter the cyberspace realm with their own unique contributions.
PARIS A PRESEASON WOODEN AWARD CANDIDATE
Courtney Paris was named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2007-08 Women's Wooden Award announced by the John R. Wooden Award committee Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Paris, a two-time Wooden All-American, was also a preseason nominee last year and was one of 16 finalists for the 2007 Women's Wooden Award. Tennessee's Candace Parker was the 2007 recipient of the honor.
The award is named for the three-time college basketball All-American, 1932 National Player of the Year and 10-time national championship coach John Wooden.
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (1979), Michael Jordan (1984), Tim Duncan (1997), and last year's recipients, Kevin Durant of Texas and Candace Parker of Tennessee.
PARIS AND TEAM USA QUALIFY FOR OLYMPICS
Courtney Paris missed 30 days of the Sooners' preseason training...and head coach Sherri Coale probably couldn't have been more pleased with the result.
Courtney Paris, one of two collegians playing for the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team, swept through the FIBA Americas Zone Tournament in Valdivia, Chile, winning the gold medal against Cuba on Sept. 30 and, more importantly, clinching a berth for the United States in next year's Olympic Games.
Paris was a role-player for the U.S., as one of very few post players her size in international basketball. She averaged nine minutes per game as the Americans went through the tournament undefeated at 5-0.
It was Paris' seventh gold medal as part of a USA Basketball team.
PARIS AND U21 TEAM WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Paris earned twice as much gold this summer as she helped the USA Basketball Women's Under 21 Team to a World Championship title in July.
The U.S. defeated Australia, 96-73, in the title game in Moscow, Russia, to give Paris and Team USA its fourth straight gold in age-group basketball.
Paris played 39 games with USA Basketball in age group contests and never lost.
She averaged 10.9 points and 8.0 rebounds in eight contests during the World Championships.
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