Women's Hoops Jumps to No. 2

Nov. 17, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team matched its highest ranking in the 33-year history of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, moving to No. 2 in the first-week edition of the poll released Monday.

The Sooners, who were No. 4 in the preseason poll, jumped Stanford and Maryland, teams that both lost games in the state of Texas last week, to match its best ranking set in the final poll of the 2002 season when OU played for a national championship against Connecticut.

Stanford dropped an 81-65 decision against Baylor Sunday, Nov. 16, and Maryland fell to TCU, 80-68, in its season opener Friday, Nov. 14. The Cardinal are now ranked No. 8 while the Terrapins fell out of the top 10 to No. 11.

The Sooners defeated UC Riverside, 88-57, in the first round of the Preseason Women's NIT.

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The change in the polls also increased the strength of schedule for Oklahoma, who could potentially face nine teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

North Carolina, a possible opponent for the Sooners should both advance to the WNIT Championship game, moved to the No. 4 spot behind No. 3 Rutgers.

Tennessee, who will meet the Sooners in Oklahoma City on Feb. 2, jumped to No. 5 and California, who will play OU on Dec. 13 in San Jose, Calif., rose to No. 7.

Connecticut remained at No. 1, claiming all 45 first-place votes. The Huskies loom on Oklahoma's schedule in what could be a possible 1-2 matchup in Storrs, Conn., on Nov. 30. The game will be televised by ESPN.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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