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February 5, 2013 | Record: 16-5 (6-3 Big 12) | Gameday Central | Stats

Just the Beginning

Senior forward Joanna McFarland has been the Sooners' most impactful player in recent games. As her basketball career comes to a close, McFarland is gearing towards making her impact felt off the court.

On Feb. 22, McFarland will interview for acceptance in OU's College of Pharmacy, where she hopes to continue coursework to obtain her doctorate.

"Normally, it is a panel of current students, the Dean of the college, and some of the professors. I think you go on a campus tour and it is trying to sell you on OU. I am probably just going to have the interview and I am really excited for it. I think if I do well and they like me, that I will get accepted."

Somehow, the McFarland has balanced the demands of being an elite college basketball while studying for a double major in chemistry and biochemistry. The Sooner has been honored as an Academic All-District member and twice as an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, proving to be one of the sport's brightest student-athletes.

"It has been challenging. Some classes more than others, especially science classes with a lab because I miss a lot of lab and lab work is something you can't make up. A lot of times I have to go into office hours and sometimes it is really stressful. Other classes, it's not any harder than any other major."

Club Rehab

Hot tubs, pools and sweating to the rhythm of the beat. That is Club Rehab. Pain, tears, ice baths and more pain. That is also Club Rehab.

Though the four Sooners who suffered season-ending injuries are all able to walk about campus, climb stairs out of the practice court and wildly celebrate on the bench, their road to recovery is still paved with a daily list of arduous tasks. Lyndsey Cloman, Whitney Hand, Maddie Manning and Kaylon Williams come in to the Lloyd Noble Center training room early or stay late when the Sooners are in Norman, and transform hotel fitness centers into their workshop when on the road.

"I am at the weakest point," Manning said. "I am at the seventh week (since my injury) and that is your weakest point. (The ACL) starts building up after seven weeks, and after twelve weeks I can start running and I am pretty excited about that."

There's a silver lining in the volume of sideline Sooners. They are their own support group, as well as additional sets of eyes for the active roster, as they continue to push success out of each other.

"You will have bad days but Whit will come in or Lyndsey will come in and they will automatically know that you are having a bad day," Williams said. "We will go into practice and find someone to focus on (teaching) and it'll take your mind off of your own pain.

"It actually helps a whole bunch; you don't feel your paint until after practice. It is great."

Kornet Sounds Off

Zero for 17. That was freshman guard Nicole Kornet's accuracy from 3-point range during a month-long, nine-game slump that saw her shoot just under 12 percent from the field.

The WBCA High School All-America Game MVP made a promising start to the season and scored a career-high 19 points in the first of three starts she would make through Oklahoma's first 11 games. But when Big 12 play began, the change in competition seemed to take its toll. Kornet's 16 minutes per game in non-conference play dwindled to half that number in Big 12 games as her shooting woes dragged through January.

"Coach Coale told me, 'Okay, Nicole, you have to shoot after practice and get out of this,'" Kornet said. "After a week of shooting extra it comes back. It happens to every shooter."

Kornet's extra work alone after practices paid off with a 3-for-5 3-point performance on Jan. 30.

"It's college and I am a freshman. It is going to happen, but I have never been in a slump. It was new to me."

Now that the Sooners are at the midpoint of their conference schedule getting rematches with league opponents, Kornet is back in stride. She has scored 14 points and shot 56 percent in OU's last two games versus TCU and West Virginia, teams she is facing for a second time.

"It is about taking a deep breath, relaxing, and playing the game that I have been playing forever."

UP NEXT
OU takes on Kansas State on the road Wednesday before hosting Bedlam on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT:

Date	Opponent	Time
2/6	at Kansas St.	7 p.m.
2/10	vs. OSU	4 p.m.

Tickets | Full Schedule
MOST RECENTLY
The Sooners suffered a tough road loss Sunday at West Virginia:

Opponent	W/L	Score
WVU	L	82-63

QUOTABLE
Freshman G Nicole Kornet
"I think that's what hurt me in the January games. I was thinking too much. You have to shoot it and not aim it so that's what I've been doing."

Freshman G Maddie Manning
"During practices, it's a lot of observing. I'm just listening to Coach is saying and trying to be a sponge. I'm still trying to get better even though I'm not playing."
TEAM NOTES

Oklahoma owns the court advantage against its next two opponents. The Sooners have a 10-game winning streak against Kansas State and have not lost in Manhattan since 2004. Against Oklahoma State, the Sooners have won 26 of the last 28 meetings and have been victorious against the Cowgirls at the Lloyd Noble Center every year since 1998.

The Sooners ordinarily hold a slim lead at the intermission of games this season, averaging a 34-30 advantage in the first half, but hold it well. OU is 12-0 when leading at halftime.

Oklahoma is 16-0 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent.

Oklahoma is the Big 12 leader in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.395) and defense (.270). The Sooners average 8.4 3-pointers per game, putting them on pace to break the program record of 251 set in 2010-11 by the end of the regular season.

2012-13 Game Notes

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Junior G Aaryn Ellenberg
With 1,487 career points, Ellenberg needs just five points to pass Dionnah Jackson (2002-05) for 11th on Oklahoma's career scoring list and 25 to pass Angi Guffy (1992-95) and reach the top 10.

Junior C Nicole Griffin
Griffin will match Ashley Paris (2006-09) for fourth on Oklahoma's career blocks list at 114 with two more rejections.

Junior G Morgan Hook
OU's point guard has played 12 consecutive games collecting a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Hook ranks third among Big 12 players with 6.4 assists per game in Big 12 contests.

Junior G Aaryn Ellenberg
Ellenberg has seven blocks in her last eight games. In her 82 career games prior, she recorded just three.

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

Twitter: @OUWomensHoops
Instagram: @ou_wbasketball
WRITE SPACE AND TIME
Follow along with OU women's basketball from the desk of head coach Sherri Coale via her blog on SoonerSports.com:

Write Space and Time Blog
HISTORY AND TRADITION
While this Sooner Report gives an in-depth idea of where the team is and where it's going, don't forget where we've been, either:

OU WBB History & Tradition