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
March to the Arch Begins Sunday
March 20, 2009 | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2009
March to the Arch Begins Sunday
Oklahoma's quest for its first national title begins in Iowa City this weekend. The Sooners face Prairie View on its path back to Oklahoma City for the regional semifinals and finals before marching to St. Louis.
The Sooners earned their second No. 1 seed in history. The last time OU was a top seed, it finished as the national runner-up to Connecticut in 2002.
The 2009 Big 12 Champions look to advance to the Final Four again.
Vote Paris for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Courtney Paris was named one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. Fans can vote for Paris once per day online at www.seniorclassaward.com.
| Game Specifics | |
| Date and Time | Sunday, March 22 at 6:21 p.m. Central | Game Notes | Live Blog |
| Location | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Tickets | OU Athletics Ticket Office | 1-800-456-GoOU |
| TV | ESPN2 and ESPNU DirecTV Channel 209; DISH Network Channel 144 |
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Radio
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Sooner Sports Radio Network | Live Audio KOKC 1520 AM in Oklahoma City |
| Webcast | ESPN360.com |
| Live Stats | SoonerSports.com CBS GameTracker |
GAME PREVIEW
No. 4 Oklahoma, a No. 1 seed, begins play in 2009 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship of Sunday, March 22, at 6 p.m. versus Prairie View A&M. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU. Should Oklahoma advance, it will face the winner of (8) Iowa/(9) Georgia Tech at 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 24.
• The Sooners earned their second 1 seed in program history. OU's 2002 national runner-up team was the other to have a No. 1 seed for the tournament.
• Oklahoma is 17-11 all-time in the NCAA Championship; 9-2 in the first round; 6-3 in the second.
• Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale is 282-131 (.684) in her 13th season.
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Scouting Oklahoma's First Round Opponent
Prairie View (Texas) A&M earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship after winning the SWAC Championship. At 23-10 overall and 17-1 in conference games, the Lady Panthers ended the season with a 19-game winning streak, currently the nation's fourth longest and was just one of two SWAC teams with a record better than .500. Prairie View is appearing in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship for the second time in program history, but second time in three seasons.
Head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a two-time WNBA MVP who led the Houston Comets to the league's first four titles, has led Prairie View to the SWAC title in each of her three seasons following a coaching stint with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
Prairie View had a 6-9 non-conference record, including a 1-4 mark on the road and 4-4 mark at neutral sites. The Panthers and Sooners share two common opponents -- Iowa State and Texas Tech. Prairie View lost to Iowa State, 75-59, in a tournament in Hawaii on Nov. 28 and fell, 72-55, at Texas Tech on Dec. 18. Oklahoma defeated Iowa State once in Norman and Texas Tech twice by at least an eight-point margin of victory in each contest.
Prairie View narrowly lost at Rutgers, a 7 seed, 58-56, on Dec. 11.
All-time, Oklahoma is 6-0 versus Prairie View. The Sooners played the Panthers twice in home-and-home series in each the 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. The smallest margin of victory for the Sooners was 28 points in a 92-68 victory at Prairie View on Dec. 12, 1990. The average margin of victory in the six-game series was 52 points.
Candice Thomas led the Lady Panthers, averaging 13.1 points. Gaati Werema and Dominique Smith added 12.1 and 10.6 points per game, respectively.
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Sooners Enter Tournament with Tested, Talented Lineup
Oklahoma enters the postseason with high expectations and a high seed. Oklahoma features the Big 12 Player of the Year Courtney Paris, All-Big 12 selections Ashley Paris and Danielle Robinson, Sixth Man Award winner Nyeshia Stevenson and Big 12 Freshman of the Year Whitney Hand.
Oklahoma finished No. 3 in the RPI and No. 1 in strength of schedule. The Sooners were 10-4 versus the current AP and ESPN Top 25 and 19-4 versus the RPI Top 100.
All-Time in the NCAA Championship
• Oklahoma is 17-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with a 9-2 record in the first round. The Sooners have a 6-3 record in the second round; 1-5 in the regional semifinal; 1-0 in the regional final; 1-0 in the national semifinal and 0-1 in the national championship.
• The last and only other time Oklahoma earned a No. 1 seed was 2002. The Sooners finished as the national runner-up to Connecticut.
• Four of the past six national champions did not win their conference tournaments (2003 and 2004 Connecticut, 2006 Maryland and 2007 Tennessee).
• Oklahoma's 2009 appearance in the NCAA Championship will be its 12th overall and 10th consecutive. OU has played in the NCAA Championship in 1986, 1995 and every year since 2000.
Courtney Paris Earns Early First-Team All-America Honors
ESPN.com and CBSSportsline.com have named Courtney Paris a first-team All-American, the first such honors for the senior center this season. Paris leads the Sooners with 16.4 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. She has 28 double-doubles.
Seniors Lead Sooners Named to Academic All-Big 12 Team
Six OU players, including all three seniors, were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team. Rose Hammond (human relations), Ashley Paris (advertising), Danielle Robinson (sociology), Amanda Thompson (communication) and Carolyn Winchester (mathematics education) were all first-team honorees. Courtney Paris (journalism) was named to the second team.
Sooners Dominating Awards Watch
Ashley and Courtney Paris were named to the Naismith Trophy mid-season candidate list, with the award honoring the top player in women's college basketball, and Danielle Robinson was named as one of 13 candidates for the Nancy Lieberman Award, honoring the nation's top point guard.
2009 SENIORS AMONG BIG 12'S WINNINGEST
Oklahoma seniors Ashley and Courtney Paris and Carolyn Winchester have led the Sooners to one of the best four-year spans in Big 12 history. Oklahoma has compiled a 109-23 (.826) record over the past four seasons, fifth best in the league's history. Oklahoma is two wins shy of the record.
Most Wins by Big 12 Teams Over Four-Year Spans
111, Baylor, 2004-07
110, Baylor, 2005-08
110, Baylor, 2002-05
109, Oklahoma, 2006-09
109, Texas Tech, 1998-2001
109, Baylor, 2003-06
Ashley Paris Joins Millennium Club
Ashley Paris became the fourth Sooner to reach both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career during the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Championship. The others are Courtney Paris (2,666 points and 1,970 rebounds), Molly McGuire (2,147 points and 1,071 rebounds) and Caton Hill (1,653 points and 1,044 rebounds).
Courtney Paris Starts Own Club
Courtney Paris is 30 rebounds shy of becoming the first college basketball player -- any gender, any membership, any division -- to collect 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in a career.
Only five players previously had reached both 2,000 points and 2,000 rebounds -- Tom Gola of La Salle (1952-55), Joe Holup of George Washington (1953-56), Jim Smith of Steubenville (1955-58) and, the only woman, Sheila Ford of North Carolina-Asheville (1980-84).
Fordham's Anne Gregory (1977-80), who scored 2,548 points, ended her career one rebound shy of 2,000.
Simply the Best
While nine Division I teams have both their men's and women's basketball programs ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll, only two NCAA Division I programs have their football and men's and women's basketball teams ranked -- Oklahoma and Florida State. Oklahoma's football team finished No. 5, while its men's basketball team is No. 7 and women's team is No. 4. Florida State's are Nos. 21, 16 and 12, respectively.
Oklahoma became the first Big 12 institution to have its men's and women's basketball teams each start 6-0 in league play in the same season. The Sooner men were 13-3 in the Big 12 and the OU women finished as champions at 15-1.
The success isn't limited to football and basketball. Many of Oklahoma's sports programs are among the best in the nation.
Vining on a Hot Streak
Sophomore guard Jenny Vining has 10 career games with multiple 3-pointers made, eight of which have come this season. Vining has made at least two 3-pointers in three consecutive games and four of her last five.
Over the last five games, Vining is averaging 8.0 points -- fifth overall and best by a reserve -- and has made 12 of 26 (.426) shots from beyond the arc. Vining is 29-of-97 from 3-point range this season. Prior to her current hot streak, the Marshall, Ark., native was 17-of-71 (.239).
Reservations For Six
Jenny Vining was just the sixth OU reserve, not missing a start due to a senior night, in the Paris Era to score at least 15 points in a game when she made five of 10 3-pointers versus Oklahoma State on Feb. 28. The feat has been accomplished 18 times in the past 132 games, twice by Vining and 10 times by Nyeshia Stevenson.
High Percentage
Oklahoma's .480 field goal percentage trails only Connecticut (.502) in the NCAA national team ranking. The Sooners have shot 50 percent or better from the field in 17 of 32 games this season after doing so only seven times last year. Of course, the high field goal percentages has Oklahoma scoring on more chances, which is why OU's scoring offense (76.7 points per game) is ninth nationally.
AMAZING ATTENDANCE
Oklahoma's 2009 total home attendance of 153,116 set a program record. The average home attendance of 9,007 was the third best in program history and ranked fourth nationally.
A visit by the Sooners raised its opponents attendance by 25 percent over its season average. The Sooners were the top draw for Saint Louis, Nebraska and Oklahoma State this season and its win over California in San Jose set a SJSU Event Center record for women's basketball with a crowd of 2,636 in attendance.
Oklahoma's quarterfinal attendance in the Big 12 Championship was 7,634, a record for a quarterfinal morning session.
The Sooners have built one of the largest fan followings in the nation. Here's a quick look at the attendance records set recently by the program:
2002 - NCAA Championship Game Record Attendance: 29,619
2007 - Big 12 Championship Game Record Attendance: 12,413
2007 - Program record for home average: 10,437
2008 - State record for single-game women's attendance: 13,611
2008 - Program record No. 3 national attendance ranking: 10,254
2008 - Lloyd Noble Center three consecutive sellouts to finish season
2008 - Averaged 42 percent increase for opponent during road games
2009 - Set Lloyd Noble Center women's basketball record: 12,906
2009 - Set program's total attendance record: 153,116
The Circus Comes to Town
When UConn visited Norman to play the Sooners during the 1999-2000 season, a then-record crowd of 10,713 attended the game at the Lloyd Noble Center. OU head coach Sherri Coale likened the experience to “the circus coming to town.”
It seems that Oklahoma now has its own three rings. A visit by the Sooners in 2008-09 boosted its opponent's attendance by 25 percent over its season average.
BENCH SUPPORT
Oklahoma's depth has taken a hit with a finger injury keeping freshman guard Whitney Hand out of the starting lineup for the next few games. Nyeshia Stevenson, the conference's top scoring reserve and shoo-in for Sixth Man of the Year, has taken her place. Stevenson accounted for 49 percent of OU's total bench points before taking the starting role.
In OU's loss to Texas A&M, the Sooner bench was outscored 19-0 by A&M's reserves. The tables flipped in OU's win versus Oklahoma State as the Sooners, led by 15 points from Jenny Vining, outscored the Cowgirls' reserves 19-11.
In Oklahoma's 28 wins, the Sooner bench has outscored the opponent's bench 574-329, or an average of 21-12. In four losses, OU's bench has been outscored 92-33, or 23 to 8 per game.
Oklahoma had only one loss -- the Big 12 Championship semifinal to Texas A&M -- when its bench outscored its opponents bench. The Sooner reserves outscored the Aggie reserves 23-9.
Stevenson...Beyond the Arc
Junior forward Nyeshia Stevenson set an OU record by making nine consecutive 3-point field goals. Stevenson was a perfect 4-for-4 in the second half versus California and 2-for-2 in the game against Tulsa and 3-for-3 at Saint Louis for a total of nine consecutive 3-pointers made.
Stevenson's streak of nine straight games with at least one 3-pointer ended as she was held scoreless Jan. 18 versus Texas A&M. Stevenson is second the Big 12 Conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.407) and is 26th nationally.
As a freshman, Stevenson made just 2-of-11 (.182) 3-pointers. As a sophomore, she improved to 28-of-82 (.341). Already in 2008-09, the junior has made 46 of 113 (.407).
POINT OF ORDER
Danielle Robinson's improved efficiency at point guard as a sophomore is incredible considering she was, statistically, the top freshman point guard in the nation last season, leading her to Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. Robinson has 186 assists to 134 turnovers in 2008-09, a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, and leads the team with 72 steals.
Robinson has also been spreading the ball around well, counting assists to nine teammates. Her only exceptions: reserves Rose Hammond, Jasmine Hartman and Carolyn Winchester.
Robinson Taking From Charity
Sophomore guard Danielle Robinson leads the Big 12 Conference in free throw percentage (.904, 94-of-104) and is second nationally.
The statistic is just one example of the point guard's remarkable improvement from her freshman season when she made just 68 of 99 (.687) free throws.
Robinson's 9-for-9 free throw shooting against Texas A&M (Jan. 18) was the best by a Sooner since Maria Villaroel made 11-of-11 versus Missouri on Feb. 26, 2003.
Robinson set an OU record by making 30 consecutive free throws, ending with her third attempt against Texas (Jan. 25). LaNeisha Caufield (2002) held the Oklahoma record for consecutive free throws at 29.
Electric Defense
Sophomore point guard Danielle Robinson, last year's only rookie on the Big 12's All-Defensive Team, has taken 24 charges in 32 games.
Runaways
Oklahoma has put away opponents early by opening with large runs. The Sooners took a 13-0 lead on North Carolina Central (Jan. 4) and then a 15-0 lead on Nebraska (Jan. 10).
Those are just two of the 36 scoring runs of 10 or more points the Sooners have had this season. Oklahoma's last was a 10-0 run lasting from 18:52 to 15:07 remaining the second half verssu Texas Tech that pushed a 28-30 deficit to a 38-30 lead.
OU's comeback versus California featured a 28-0 run that last from 9:00 remaining to the final 30 seconds of that game.
The Sooners quickest 10-0 run lasted 2:11 over both sides of the break against No. 1 Connecticut. Oklahoma has even had three double-digit runs in one game, doing so with 12-point first half, 13-point over-the-break, and 13-point second half runs against Creighton.
THE STREAK ENDS AT 112 CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Courtney Paris' streak of consecutive games with a double-double ended Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, against Tennessee at 120 games. Paris' streak began with a 22-point, 24-rebound effort versus UCLA on Dec. 5, 2005, and lasted 1,159 days. Courtney Paris has collected 125 double-doubles in 132 career games.
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 20 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Nov. 15, 2008-Jan. 31, 2009 18 - Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal, Nov. 28, 1984-Feb. 14, 1985 |
| Career Double-Doubles 125 - 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 112 - Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Dec. 5, 2005-Jan. 31, 2009 19 - Anne Donovan, Old Dominion, Jan. 29, 1982-Dec. 29, 1983 18 - Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal, Nov. 28, 1994-Feb. 14, 1985 |
PARIS AND DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING
Courtney Paris became Oklahoma's career leader in double-figure scoring games with her performance against Cal State Bakersfield, passing LaNeisha Caufield. Caufield's record stood at 108 games and Paris is now at 130.
Paris fell just shy of the NCAA record for most consecutive double-figure scoring games, which belongs to LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State (1999-2002) at 125. Paris' streak of double-figure games ended at 120 on Feb. 2 vs. Tennessee when she scored just nine points.
Paris has matched the NCAA record for most total double-figure scoring games, which belongs to Sophia Young of Baylor (2003-06), who had 130 in 139 career games.
Most Consecutive Double-Figure Scoring Games
125 LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State (1998-2002)
120 Courtney Paris, Oklahoma (2006-2009)
Most Double-Figure Scoring Games
130 Sophia Young, Baylor (2003-06, 139 games)
130 Courtney Paris, Oklahoma (2006-09, 132 games)
125 LaToya Thomas, Miss. St. (1998-02, 125 games)
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THE HONOR ROLL -- Awards won by Sooners in 2008-09
Sherri Coale
Big 12 Coach of the Year
WBCA Region 5 Coach of the Year
Courtney Paris
First-Team All-American (ESPN.com, CBSSportsline.com)
Wade Trophy Candidate
Naismith Trophy Candidate
Wooden Award Candidate
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist
Big 12 Player of the Year
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
All-Big 12 Championship Team member
Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team member
WBCA National Player of the Month of December
Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 26, Feb. 23)
Ashley Paris
Naismith Trophy Candidate
All-Big 12 First Team
Academic All-Big 12 Academic Team
Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team member
Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 24, Jan. 19)
Danielle Robinson
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
Nancy Lieberman Award Finalist
All-Big 12 First Team
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Whitney Hand
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
All-Big 12 honorable mention
Big 12 Freshman of the Week (Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9)
Nyeshia Stevenson
Big 12 Co-Sixth Man of the Year
Big 12 Player of the Week (Dec. 15)
Rose Hammond
Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Amanda Thompson
Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Carolyn Winchester
Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Jennie Baranczyk, Payton Verhulst, and Raegan Beers Postgame vs South Carolina
Saturday, March 28
Jennie Baranczyk, Sahara Williams, Aaliyah Chavez, and Raegan Beers Media Availability - 3/27/26
Friday, March 27
WBB Highlights: OU 77, Michigan State 71
Sunday, March 22
Jennie Baranczyk, Raegan Beers, and Payton Verhulst Postgame vs Michigan State
Sunday, March 22
