Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #23 Alabama on February 15, 2026 , Win , 79, to, 71
Final
Women's Basketball
79
at #23 Alabama
71
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Showdown Sunday: OU vs. UConn
November 29, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2008
AURIEMMA, COALE JOIN FORCES
Geno Auriemma will autograph and donate and Brioni necktie and Sherri Coale a black Cole Haan handbag to be auctioned separately with all proceeds benefiting the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
Bids may be placed online by visiting either WBCA.org or GenosCancerTeam.com. The auction begins at tip-off time (8 p.m. Eastern) of Sunday's game and lasts one week.
| Game Specifics | |
| Date and Time | Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7:15 p.m. Central | Game Notes |
| Location | Storrs, Conn. | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion |
| Tickets | UConnHuskies.com |
| TV | ESPN (Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck) |
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Radio
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SoonerSports Radio Network (Brian Brinkley & Kendra Wecker) KOKC 1520 AM in Oklahoma City KAKC 1300 AM in Tulsa |
| Webcast | None |
| Live Stats | ESPN.com GameCast |
GAME PREVIEW
The No. 1 Connecticut Huskies host the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners Sunday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. Central at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. It is the second Top 5 matchup for Oklahoma, following a one-point loss to North Carolina. For UConn, it is the first game played against a ranked team.
• Oklahoma and Connecticut are meeting for the seventh time, but this is just the second time in Storrs. UConn has won the previous six meetings. OU and UConn have also met in Norman, Richmond, Hartford, San Antonio, Honolulu.
• Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale is 258-128 (.668) in her 13th season.
• Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma is 661-122 (.844) in his 24th season.
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ABOUT CONNECTICUT
The University of Connecticut is a member of the Big East Conference and is located in Storrs, Conn., about 25 miles east of Hartford.
UConn has opened its season with a 4-0 record for the sixth straight season and 12th time in the past 13 seasons. The Huskies are 6-0 against Oklahoma, including a 1-0 mark in Storrs, 2-0 record in Connecticut. UConn is 14-1 all-time versus teams from the Big 12 Conference.
UConn was picked as the nation's No. 1 team in both the preseason AP and coaches' polls and has remained there since.
Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma is 661-122 (.844) in his 24th season.
UConn sophmore forward Maya Moore was the national freshman of the year last season and is a prospect for national player of the year. Moore has scored in double figures in 40 of 42 career games.
Senior point guard Renee Montgomery is college basketball's most experienced active player, leading the country in both games started (113) and consecutive games started. OU's Courtney Paris is second on the total games started charts among active players with 105.
Connecticut has the nation's longest home winning streak. The Huskies have won 27 straight home games.
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PREVIEWING THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Oklahoma begins the season with high expectations and high rankings -- No. 4 in the Preseason AP Poll and No. 7 in the Coaches' Poll. Returning for Oklahoma are 11 players, including four starters and three-time consensus All-American Courtney Paris. Big 12 Freshman of the Year Danielle Robinson will run the offense as a sophomore and teammates and coaches are raving about the prospects of Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year Whitney Hand.
Oklahoma again plays one of the toughest schedules in the nation with consensus No. 1 Connecticut, and top-ranked Tennessee and California as well as ranked Big 12 teams Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma State and Baylor on the slate.
105 GAMES, 102 DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Courtney Paris has collected 102 double-doubles in 105 career games. She has an active streak of 97 consecutive games with a double-double. The streak began with a 22-point, 24-rebound effort versus UCLA on Dec. 5, 2005, and will be 1,095 days old when OU plays UConn on Nov. 30, 2008.
OFFICIALLY A RECORD
It has long been thought that Courtney Paris' double-double numbers were NCAA records. Beginning with the 2008-09 season, those statements are now factual.
The NCAA has made single-season and career double-doubles as well as single-season and career consecutive double-doubles new records for women's basketball.
| Single-Season Double-Doubles 33 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, 2006 33 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, 2007 32 - Anne Donovan, Old Dominion, 1983 31 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, 2008 30 - Cheryl Taylor, Tennessee Tech, 1986 |
Single-Season Consecutive Double-Doubles 33 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Nov. 12, 2006-March 25, 2007 31 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Nov. 11, 2007-March 25, 2008 28 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Dec. 5, 2005-March 25, 2006 18 - Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal, Nov. 28, 1984-Feb. 14, 1985 15 - Gail Koziara, Dartmouth, Jan. 16-Feb. 28, 1982 |
| Career Double-Doubles 102 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, 2006-Active 90 - Cheryl Taylor, Tennessee Tech, 1984-87 78 - Janet Harris, Georgia, 1982-85 75 - Sylvia Fowles, LSU, 2005-08 |
Career Consecutive Double-Doubles 97 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Dec. 5, 2005-Active 19 - Anne Donovan, Old Dominion, Jan. 29, 1982-Dec. 29, 1983 18 - Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal, Nov. 28, 1994-Feb. 14, 1985 |
OKLAHOMA vs. TOP 5
Oklahoma's history against the nation's top-ranked teams is something the Sooners would like to change. Sunday, they'll get another chance.
All-time, Oklahoma is 2-27 versus teams ranked in the AP Top Five. The highest ranked teams Oklahoma has ever beaten were No. 2 Texas in the 2004 Big 12 Championship and No. 3 Duke in the 2002 Final Four.
OU's last two matchups versus top five teams have been epics, however. Then-No. 4 North Carolina outlasted then-No. 2 Oklahoma, 80-79, to win the Preseason WNIT Championship on Nov. 23, 2008. No. 1 Tennessee used free throws to sink OU 70-67 at the ESPNU Invitational on Nov. 15, 2007.
Sherri Coale-coached teams are 0-5 versus No. 1. Four of those losses were against Connecticut, which came in the course of just two different seasons.
2001-02 vs. Connecticut
March 31, 2002 – L, 82-70, at NCAA Final Four, San Antonio (ESPN)
Dec. 22, 2001 – L, 86-72, at Hartford (ESPN2)
1999-00 vs. Connecticut
March 25, 2000 – L, 102-80, at NCAA Sweet 16, Richmond, Va. (ESPN)
Dec. 29, 1999 – L, 84-68, at Norman (Fox SportsNet)
LAST TIME OUT...Oklahoma 83, Marist 57
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- OU freshman guard Whitney Hand scored a career-high 20 points and Danielle Robinson added 17 points and a career-best eight assists as the fourth-ranked Sooners beat Marist 83-57 to head into their showdown with the No. 1 Huskies on a positive note.
Hand scored nine quick points as Oklahoma (4-1) opened the game on a 17-2 run, keeping Marist from hitting a field goal for the first 6 minutes, and it was never close again. The Red Foxes got back within 10 before another drought of 6 minutes later in the half, and Hand's 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run to push the lead to 37-15.
That washed away the memory of an 80-79 loss to North Carolina in the finals of the Women's Preseason NIT on Sunday, especially for Hand -- who went 1-for-7 from 3-point range and also missed her only shot from inside the arc against the Tar Heels.
Hand's hot hand lightened the load for All-America center Courtney Paris, who needed a season-low 22 minutes to extend her streak of double-doubles to 97 straight with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Her twin sister, Ashley Paris, added 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Rachele Fitz scored 17 points and Erica Allenspach added 10 for the Red Foxes (3-1), the preseason favorite in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Marist coach Brian Giorgis, who said he had been an Oklahoma football fan for more than 40 years, arrived to find a football that had been signed by Barry Switzer, who led the Sooners to three national championships, and by current coach Bob Stoops.
“It was all downhill after this,” said Giorgis, holding up the ball at his postgame news conference.
Marist got closer than 20 points only once in the second half, following a 10-0 run that closed the gap to 65-46. Coale then put her starters back in, and the Red Foxes' surge came to an abrupt end.
POSTGAME LEFTOVERS
No Time for Heartbreak
There was no time to think about a one-point loss to North Carolina in the Preseasom WNIT Championship Game as Oklahoma had Marist and UConn on the horizon. For their efforts, twins Ashley and Courtney Paris were named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team and Ashley was Big 12 Player of the Week.
Courtney Paris Sets Scoring Record
The second-ranked Sooners never trailed at home against Arizona State, winning the Preseason WNIT semifinal, 70-57. Courtney Paris scored 19 points and 20 rebounds for her 100th career double-double and passed Phylesha Whaley as OU's career scoring leader.
Holding Guard
Oklahoma's defense has allowed opponents' starting guards just two points. Opposing guards have combined to score 49 points on 17-for-73 (.233) field-goal shooting in 281 combined minutes of play. Conversely, OU starting guards, sophomore Danielle Robinson and freshman Whitney Hand, are 42-for-92 (.457) for 114 points in 278 minutes.
Paris Gets Another Record
Courtney Paris scored 19 points against Arizona State (Nov. 21) to pass Phylesha Whaley (2,187) as OU's career scoring leader. Paris currently has 2,189 career points.
More on Paris' Scoring Efficiency
Phylesha Whaley scored 2,187 points in 116 career games and an OU record 4,025 minutes played. Courtney Paris passed Whaley's mark with 2,189 points in 103 games. Paris' 3,152 minutes played -- 873 fewer than Whaley -- isn't even in the top 10 on Oklahoma's career marks.
Rebound Record on Pace
The two-time NCAA single-season rebounding leader also passed LSU's Sylvia Fowles for third on the NCAA career rebounding list. With 1,601 career rebounds, Paris needs 61 to match Patricia Hoskins for second.
Oklahoma Plays Game No. 1,000
Oklahoma played its 1,000th game since the program was re-established in 1974 following the passing of Title IX. The Sooners' all-time record is 582-422 (.580).
Lucky Number Seven
Whitney Hand became just the seventh true freshman under OU head coach Sherri Coale to start in her first collegiate game, joining LaNeisha Caufield, Stacey Dales, Caton Hill, Courtney Paris, Chelsi Welch and Phylesha Whaley.
NOTEWORTHY
• Ashley Paris named Big 12 player of the Week
Paris led the Sooners in scoring and posted double-doubles against two of OU's three games of the Preseason Women's NIT last week. The senior averaged 17 points, nine rebounds and a 63 percent field-goal shooting mark while helping No. 4 Oklahoma through the Preseason WNIT Championship Game and, along with sister Courtney, was named to its all-tournament team.
• Paris a Unanimous Pick for All-American
Courtney Paris has been a regular on The Associated Press' preseason All-America team the past few years. Now, the senior has joined an elite group as only the sixth unanimous choice in the 15-year history of the squad. Joining the Oklahoma center on the team were Connecticut's Maya Moore, Louisville's Angel McCoughtry, Maryland's Kristi Toliver, and Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley. For the first time, Paris was on every ballot of the 45-member national media panel. Previous unanimous selections were Chamique Holdsclaw, Diana Taurasi, Alana Beard, Seimone Augustus and Candace Parker.
• Big 12 Coaches Vote Paris, Hand
There must be something in the water at the Lloyd Noble Center. After becoming the first school to sweep the Big 12's preseason vote for No. 1 team in men's and women's basketball, Oklahoma swept the league's picks for preseason player of the year and freshman of the year. The Big 12 Conference named Courtney Paris its Preseason Player of the Year for a third consecutive season and Whitney Hand, who tied with Texas A&M's Tyra White, its Co-Preseason Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league's head coaches.
• Oklahoma No. 1 in Big 12 Poll
In a vote of the league's coaches released Wednesday, the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team was the preseason favorite to win the 2009 Big 12 regular season championship. Sherri Coale's Sooners earned seven of the 12 first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams) and 124 points to take No. 1. Texas (95) received one first-place vote for second in a close vote over Iowa State (93), which received two first-place votes. Baylor (89), with one first-place vote, Texas A&M (85), Oklahoma State (79 and one first-place vote), defending Big 12 champion Kansas State (71), Nebraska (56), Kansas (41), Texas Tech (36), Colorado (18) and Missouri (15), respectively, completed the poll.
It is the second time in the last three seasons (2006-07) that Oklahoma has been the coaches' preseason top pick and third time in the league's history (2001-02). The Big 12's preseason favroite has earned at least a share of the conference title in five of the previous 11 seasons the poll was conducted, including the two previous times OU was No. 1.
• Wecker Joins Oklahoma Staff
2005 Big 12 Player of the Year Kendra Wecker would join the team as a graduate assistant. Wecker was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team member at Kansas State and was picked fourth overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2005 WNBA Draft.
The Marysville, Kan., native ended her collegiate basketball career as one of the sport's most prolific athletes. A first-team All-American in 2005, Wecker was a three-time Naismith Player of the Year finalist and two-time Wade Trophy and Wooden Award finalist. Wecker still holds Kansas State career records for scoring (2,333 points), rebounds (1,087), double-doubles (52), field goals made (935), field goals attempted (1,913) and minutes played (4,141).
Wecker will pursue Master's of Education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletics administration.
• Paris Leads Wade Trophy Candidates
Oklahoma senior Courtney Paris leads the 25-member list of State Farm Wade Trophy preseason candidates, announced Tuesday by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Wade Trophy is presented to the NCAA Division I women's college basketball player of the year.
Paris has been a finalist for the award the past two seasons and, along with Maryland seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver, is making her third appearance on the preseason watch list.
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PURCHASE OU BASKETBALL TICKETS
Single-game tickets for the nationally-ranked OU men's and women's basketball teams go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Tickets will first be available online at SoonerSports.com at 12:01 a.m. Phone orders begin at 8 a.m. via the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU. If supplies remain, walk-up sales at the ticket office begin at 10 a.m.
The ticket sale includes men's games against USC, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma State and women's games against Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $10 each while women's tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youths.
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OU Basketball Single-Game Ticket Sale
Wednesday, November 19  First available at 12:01 a.m. online at SoonerSports.com, Then available at 8 a.m. by calling (800) 456-GoOU or (405) 325-2424, Then available at 10 a.m. for walk-up sales at OU Athletics Ticket Office (if tickets remain) |
OU Athletics Ticket Office
The OU Athletics Ticket Office is located on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility, immediately west of the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. A limited number of metered parking spaces are available on the second floor of the parking facility and on Asp Street for customer use. The OU Athletics Ticket Office handles ticketing for all OU athletics events and is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Map to Ticket Office
Phone (405) 325-2424 or toll-free: (800) 456-GoOU
Fax (405) 325-8500
Email outickets@ou.edu
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