Women's Hoops Celebrates Season

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team celebrated another Final Four season with its fans Monday night at its annual postseason banquet.

Held at the USPS National Center for Employee Development, the Sooners honored their coaching staff, players and fans after a remarkable season that ended in the national semifinals in San Antonio.

"Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a team," OU head coach Sherri Coale said. "We had a team. If you want to know what one looks like and what one feels like, watch what we did this year."

The night concluded with the presentation of team awards and the honoring of the seniors, who were all drafted recently by WNBA teams and will graduate by the end of the year.

"I think people love Amanda Thompson because she reeks of sincerity," Coale said. "She plays with joy and abandon and leaves a little bit of herself on the floor every time she plays. I think that people appreciate that. People are drawn to that. People can sense that. I think that's what has made her so incredibly special."

In addition to receiving her conference medallion as an All-Big 12 First Team selection, Thompson was voted by the Sooners as the team's Most Valuable Player and earned the Monster Board Award as the team's leading rebounder.

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"She's always led by example and done the right things. She's always done what is expected of her and then a little more. It's one thing entirely to learn how to do that and then to demand that other people do it with you. And she learned how to do that in a most extraordinary way.

"In 14 years of coaching I can't think of a kid who's been more rewarding to work with."

The award for Most Improved Player went to Abi Olajuwon, who's inspiring offseason transformation was lauded for the past year.

"Abi was a breath of fresh air ... she knew it was going to be really, really hard to play behind Courtney and Ashley Paris. She came anyway. She came because she figured how else could she get as good as she can possibly be if she didn't play against the best that is out there."

Coale said Abi Olajuwon's commitment to selflessness was a phenomenon that without, Oklahoma would not have the successes that it had.

"There is a very, very special reward that comes from earning, and learning, and growing into your spot. She did it the old-fashioned way. She did it the hard way. It will serve her well for the rest of her life."

Nyeshia Stevenson earned the team's Nail Award, given to the player who exhibits the most mental and physical toughness, as well as the Mojo Award for being able to create momentum offensively or defensively.

"The thing that was so special about Nyeshia this year on the court was how she became the one who wanted the ball. `Game is one the line -- run that play for me.' More often than not, she made the basket. She wanted to be responsible.

"I don't think, in my 14 years at the University of Oklahoma I've ever had a kid who's grown and progressed more than Ny has. I really believe that. As a person, as a student, as a basketball player -- she has grown in every way imaginable.

"When I watched her at senior night perform, during the game and after the game. She took that mic and held the 10,000-plus of you who stayed around for those senior speeches, she held you right there in the palm of her hand. This was a kid who didn't always look you in the eye four years ago."

All-American Danielle Robinson was the team's offensive player of the year and earned the Charge Award for taking the most charges during the season.

Jasmine Hartman was named OU's Defensive Player of the Year and was voted winner of the Foxhole Award for being the best teammate.

Sophomore Whitney Hand, who had a season-ending ACL tear in November, was honored with the Glue Award for epitomizing that which bonded the team together this season.

2010 Oklahoma Women's Basketball Awards
*Most Valuable Player	Amanda Thompson
*Offensive Player of the Year	Danielle Robinson
*Defensive Player of the Year	Jasmine Hartman
*Most Improved Player	Abi Olajuwon
*Nail (mental and physical toughness)	Nyeshia Stevenson
*Glue (player who bonds the team)	Whitney Hand
*Foxhole (best teammate)	Jasmine Hartman
*Mojo (best momentum changer)	Nyeshia Stevenson
Monster Board (top rebounder)	Amanda Thompson
Charge Award (most charges taken)	Danielle Robinson
Sooner Service Award	David Miller

*Voted by the players.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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