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February 28, 2013 | Record: 19-9 (9-7 Big 12) | Gameday Central | Stats

The Final Four

Four University of Oklahoma women's basketball players will step onto the Lloyd Noble Center court a final time Saturday. Lyndsey Cloman, Whitney Hand, Jasmine Hartman and Joanna McFarland all had dreams realized and faiths challenged. As the Sooners conclude their 2012-13 season, the quartet describes the resolve and resiliency that defines its legacy at Oklahoma.

Forward/Center Lyndsey Cloman
At the beginning of this season, redshirt junior forward Lyndsey Cloman faced a difficult decision: Should she retire from the sport she had been playing her whole life due to ongoing back issues? Cloman realized leaving the court was the best option for her.

"It's one of those things where you have to cry about it and just figure it out," Cloman admitted.

"Without my teammates, I know I wouldn't be able to get through it. Being a captain, I knew I had to be positive around these girls and continue to make an effort to make them better even though I couldn't play anymore."

Although Cloman has another year of athletic eligibility left, she is a senior in school and will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in communications. Then, Cloman plans on staying at OU and earning her master's degree, either in human relations or communication.

Cloman's dream is becoming a sports broadcaster, so she hopes to work with SoonerVision during her graduate education to gain some experience with film.

"It is just something I have always wanted to do, and I've been inspired by the people who do it," Cloman explained. "I think it's really awesome, and I can stay around the sport without playing."

Guard Whitney Hand
Following her basketball career at OU, there are "so many things" Whitney Hand wants to do, including pursuing nutrition and getting her personal trainer and strength and conditioning licenses after obtaining her Bachelor's degree in health and exercise science. Also, Hand said she has considered dabbling in some broadcasting, but she does not know where that will lead.

"I am so grateful for this opportunity and for the fans," Hand explained. "The city of Norman has become my home for sure. I love the people here. The coaches, they are really family to me, and all these girls are like sisters. That's exactly what I would have hoped for when I committed. That's what I thought it would be, and it hasn't let me down at all."

Every team is different each season and unique as a whole, Hand explained, so she has memories from each one. Some that stand out are both Final Fours, which Hand called "magical," and also some individual games. She included the Tennessee game her freshman year, Miami in the Sweet 16 her redshirt sophomore year and at Kansas State last season as some of her favorites. The second mission the team took to Haiti was one of her most memorable times with her team.

Hand, who suffered two ACL injuries at OU, including a career-ending one this season, said she hopes Sooner fans do not remember her as the girl who got hurt but rather someone who always gave it her all.

"I just want to be remembered as someone who gave everything she had and maximized everything she could with her time here," Hand said.

Guard Jasmine Hartman
Last season, Jasmine Hartman suffered the second knee injury of her basketball career, this time to her ACL. The other came her junior year of high school in the form of a PCL injury. Now, Hartman said she is thankful she is still able to play basketball.

"The fact that I am able to do this is just a blessing to me," Hartman said. "My trainers are working hard with me, and we still rehab to this day. The fact that I am doing that helps me gain my confidence back and be able to push through things."

One goal Hartman said she would like to accomplish is owning and operating a gym. She wants it to have an area with multiple basketball courts where kids and AAU teams can come to play. In addition, she would like to have the gym to include a pool and fitness classes like Zumba.

"I love the fact that the gym thing came to my mind one day, and I was just like, 'I love this,'" Hartman stated. "Nobody wants to sit in an office forever. You want to be able to relax and say, 'I'm still doing good for other people.'"

For her team, Hartman explained she views herself as a senior leader and defensive stopper. Hartman said she believes coming off the bench after being able to watch the game is an advantage.

Forward Joanna McFarland
As graduation draws near, McFarland, a fourth-generation OU student who has been playing basketball since she was 5 years old, admitted it is weird to be so close to the end of her career.

"I've been playing this game for more years of my life than I haven't been," McFarland said. "I'm excited to turn the page and do something different, but I know I'm going to miss being a part of a team and being a part of this organization because it's really great."

McFarland, who is studying chemistry and biology, has been selected to attend OU's College of Pharmacy in Oklahoma City. McFarland is pursuing pharmacy because she has always wanted to work in the medical field due to her interest in science and chemistry, and pharmacy fits in with that and helping people.

McFarland has had an impressive senior season and is nearly averaging a double-double, collecting 9.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

"I am really trying to be the emotional spark for the team and really just trying to give everything that I have because it is the last time I'll have a chance to do it," McFarland explained.

Through Ellenberg's Eyes

Aaryn Ellenberg, named a Naismith Award candidate this week, is spectacular in front of cameras when on the court. Her passion, however, is what she does behind a camera off the court.

"Back in high school, I was just interested in all types of art," Ellenberg said. "I was taking ceramics and bunch of drawing classes. We had a course of black and white photography. Really it was there I started getting into photography. We got to work in a darkroom and develop our own prints.

"For me, it's not all about just taking pictures; it's about what they mean to me, the meanings behind what I shoot. I think they do a really good job at the art school of teaching us not just how to take a good picture, but how to put ideas and concepts behind what you shoot.

"They really push us to step outside the box and try to put some more storytelling or meaning behind our photographs."

UP NEXT
OU hosts its final home game of the season at the LNC Saturday and then wraps up the regular season Monday:

Date	Opponent	Time
3/2	vs. Kansas	7 p.m.
3/4	at Texas Tech	7 p.m.

Tickets | Full Schedule
MOST RECENTLY
The Sooners battled No. 1 Baylor but lost consecutive games for just the second time this season:

Opponent	W/L	Score
Baylor	L	86-64
Oklahoma State	L	83-62

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Sherri Coale
"For the most part I thought we got high quality shots. We could have had a little more movement; I think it would have bothered them more, our movement away from the ball. There was a few times where I think we forced layups when we had kicks. We could have kicked to shooters in the corners. But, again we were being aggressive and we were trying to go make plays and I like that."

Assistant Coach Jan Ross
"In a battle like that, you search for the positives. Whatever positives you can pull out of it, you pull out of it. Being able to inspire and educate through my own personal battle with cancer -- that's a definite positive."

Senior G Whitney Hand
"Coach Coale really makes an effort to get us involved in the community and I've benefited from that. I've gotten to see what that does in the community, within our team. It strengthens our bond and it strengthens our bond within the community. I'm really blessed to be part of a program that really accentuates that effort."

TEAM NOTES

Assistant coach Jan Ross was named the winner of the 2013 Carol Eckman Award, given by the WBCA to a member coach who exemplifies integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose.

With 19 wins, Oklahoma needs just one for its eighth consecutive 20-win season, which would be the program's 18th overall. One win would also guarantee the Sooners a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

A loss to No. 1 Baylor handed Oklahoma its first back-to-back 20-plus-point losses for the since the 2000-01 season when the Sooners fell to No. 6 Georgia, 94-70 (Nov. 22) and No. 19 Wisconsin, 97-77 (Nov. 24). OU has not had three consecutive losses of 20 or more points since their second season in February 1976.

2012-13 Game Notes

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Senior G Whitney Hand
Hand was named to the inaugural five-member Allstate WBCA Division I Good Works Team. The team is composed of college women's basketball student-athletes who make outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement.

Junior G Aaryn Ellenberg
Ellenberg was designated one of 30 candidates for the 2013 Naismith Women's National Player of the Year Award. Ellenberg tops Big 12 players in 3-pointers made per game (3.3) and 3-point percentage (43 percent), and is third and 10th, respectively, among NCAA Division I players in the categories.

Junior C Nicole Griffin
One block versus Baylor on Monday moved Griffin past Amanda Thompson (2007-10) into sole possession of third on OU's career blocks list with 123.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay connected with the OU women's basketball team by following our feeds on Twitter and Instagram:

Twitter: @OUWomensHoops
Instagram: @ou_wbasketball

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 women's basketball championship in Dallas is just around the corner (March 8-11). Make sure you purchase your tickets and get ready to support the Sooners:

2013 Big 12 Championship Central
Big 12 Championship Tickets

BEHIND THE LENS
This isn't the first time we've recognized Ellenberg's talents behind the camera. Check out this portfolio feature on the talented guard:

Through Ellenberg's Eyes
Photos

Photos from Ellenberg's Portfolio

HANDS ON
The season premiere of Sooner Sports Weekly, with an episode covering the OU volleyball season, airs Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on FS Oklahoma. Watch this sneak peek feature hosted by Whitney Hand as basketball guard and volleyball libero Eden Williams teaches how to make the perfect pass: