Sooners Meet with Media Ahead of Season

NORMAN – Amidst preparation for the upcoming season, the Oklahoma women's basketball team met with reporters during the program's local media day Monday at Lloyd Noble Center.

Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale and her team previewed the upcoming season and discussed where the Sooners stand since beginning practice this fall.

The Sooners open their season on Monday, Nov. 4 with their first exhibition contest of the year against Oklahoma City University 7 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. OU kicks off the regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. CT versus Prairie View A&M in the opening round of the Preseason NIT Tournament.

Here's more from OU's local media day:

Head Coach Sherri Coale

On gearing up to start the season:
"We are right on the cusp of this season that starts off in the LNC hosting the WNIT, so we are very dialed in right now, trying to make sure we fine tune some things to get ready to take on that competition in that very tough field. We're senior-less, as you guys know, a young team, a lot of freshman and sophomores. We're excited about the opportunities that await us this week. Really have been focused on just getting better every single day. Our mission being, 'be the best and getting better,' and our guys have made great progress. It's fun to go into the gym every day and work with them. I'm excited for you guys to get to know them."

On the Sooners' coaching staff:
"Our coaching staff has been fantastic. There is great belief in our gym. The energy level that Jackie [Stiles], Coquese [Washington] and Colton [Coale] bring is terrific.

Jackie has that amazing will about her as a player, which obviously enabled her to be the all-time leading scorer in women's basketball, and that's contagious. Kids understand that, they see that work ethic, they see that will … that gets all over them and that's a good thing.

Coquese has great experience and is one of the most acute listeners I've ever been around … I don't know if there's a better skill for a coach to have. Whether you're listening to what people are saying or listening for what people are saying, when I say that, I'm talking about our team in the throws a competition.

Colton has confidence about him and able to relate to players that helps them reset quickly. understands what it is that they see we can be. It's been a great mix, we're having a great time teaching, working together, and recruiting together.
10/28/2019 Oklahoma women's basketball media day. Photo by Ty Russell

10/28/2019 Oklahoma women's basketball media day. Photo by Ty Russell

On the team's leadership:
"You know in leadership, again that's a question that we could talk about for a long time. When you walk into Barnes and Noble, there are rows and rows of books about it because there's a lot of people bumfuzzled about how exactly you can get it, how you can get the way you want it, and what affect it can have on an organization. Without seniors you don't have all that experience that you expect a senior class to have. However, Ana [Llanusa] has played just about every minute she's been available to play, which has been a bunch for her two years, she has a lot of experience.

Mandy [Simpson] played a ton last year as a true sophomore, so she has a lot of experience. Kamryn Lemon is our JUCO transfer, she has no experience. Yes, she's played at the junior college level for two years, but there's a learning curve when you go from JC to Division I, so she in many ways is like a freshman, because she's having to adjust to everything that is new. So, are the two kids, Ana and Mandy leading? They're still growing and learning in their capacity to impact. We talk a lot about seizing the moment. Here's a moment where our team needs leadership. Are you providing it and how can you provide it? Both of those guys, Mandy and Ana, are as sincere in their desire to get our team where we want our team to be, as any kid I've ever been around. It's just learning how to do that and be that, and that's especially difficult if that hasn't been modeled for you from a teammate. They're learning and they're getting better at it. It might be leadership by everyone locking arms and walking in the same direction. Sometimes it takes different forms."

Junior Ana Llanusa

On her excitement for season:
"I am very excited. I think we all put a lot of time into the gym and just been working really hard. I'm excited to put all the hard work we've been putting in back on the court."

On how her role last year prepared her for this season:
"It definitely gave me a lot of confidence. It boosted my confidence a lot and showed me what I could do and what I could do for my teammates. I am excited to get back out there and hopefully do more and do the same."

On her goals:
"Some goals of mine were to be more consistent with shooting the three. It went in quite a bit last year but there is always room for improvement. Really being consistent with that, still attacking the rim and trying to score in every aspect; just being consistent."

Freshman Gabby Gregory

On the freshman transition
"Just the transition from playing against high school players then coming in and playing against college players, the level and the speed is so different but I think we've adapted pretty well."

On the team's youth:
"Just being young but also being experienced has helped us a lot. The freshman class last year that is now sophomores makes up a big bulk of the team, but even the juniors have taken the role as seniors since they've been here for so long. They're really experienced, so they've taken in the freshmen and shown us what we're supposed to do. Also, we're really focusing on this year because it's easy to talk about how good we're going to be in two years when this class becomes sophomores and the juniors become seniors, but I think we're really focusing on this year because we think we can be really good this year, too."

Junior Mandy Simpson

On her role as an upperclassman:
"It is weird to think we are the oldest on the team now, because it feels like just yesterday we were freshman. I think just using those two years that are under our belt to teach the freshmen, walk them through practice every day and getting ready for game-like situations has been really important for us. I think also it's been awesome to have freshmen and sophomores, there is so much inexperience just because all they do is play basketball. That is all we have been focused on this year. Of course, we have been focused on fundamentals but we're focused on playing, playing with one another and for one another so that has been really refreshing."

On how her leadership style gels with Ana Llanusa's:
"I think me and Ana really bounce off one another with leadership. I am kind of a more vocal leader and Ana is more of a leader through action and example. I think having that balance is really important. I can't be off one day and she can't be off one day, but we really lean on one another being really good friends. I think we have really grown with one another and alongside one another which has made our leadership together really strong."

On what her team has learned so far this year:
"We have learned how to play with one another and for one another better this year. I think that is evident in practice, help-rotations, offense, movement. There is a lot more trust and a lot more playing for one another which is super important and is going to be pivotal for us."

Sophomore Taylor Robertson

On her offseason improvements to her game:
"I got stronger and faster, for sure. Offensively, I worked on moving without the ball more and using screens and being able to read screens, no matter what the defense does. Being able to be creative is another thing. Everyone knows I'm able to shoot from last year so just trying to find new ways to get open."

On things she has worked on when teams try to limit her shooting ability:
"One thing I've been trying to do more of is screen. Because I know if I go and screen for somebody, they're going to be concerned about me second-cutting or popping out so then both defenders will come at me and somebody will be open. So I think I'm a pretty good passer and that should be one thing that shows up this season."