Ellenberg, Hand Preseason Honorable Mention

Oct. 5, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg and Whitney Hand received honorable mentions to the 2011-12 Big 12 Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Team announced by the conference Wednesday.

Ellenberg was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after last season's campaign when she started all but two games and set OU's single season record for 3-pointers made (94) as a rookie. The sophomore is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 16.2 points and shooting better than 39 percent from beyond the arc. She was voted Big 12 Freshman of the Week four times and an All-Big 12 Freshman Team member.

Hand returned from an ACL injury in January to play in OU's final 22 games, recording 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. The former Big 12 Freshman of the Year totaled career highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds in her return performance against TCU and led the Sooners in average minutes played.

Baylor's Brittney Griner was named preseason player of the year. Griner and teammate Odyssey Sims, Kansas' Carolyn Davis, Oklahoma State's Toni Young, Texas' Chassidy Fussell and Texas A&M's Tyra White completed the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Sneak previews of the 2011-12 Oklahoma women's basketball team begin Oct. 17 with the Fast Break Club Preseason Banquet and Season Ticket Holder Scrimmage on Oct. 27, both at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Sooners host the first of two exhibition games Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. versus Central Oklahoma.

View the complete Preseason All-Big 12 Team at Big12Sports.com