Junior center earns honor for second consecutive season
Oct. 10, 2007
IRVING, Texas – For the second straight season, Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches announced by the conference office Wednesday.
Paris has been the face of Big 12 women’s basketball in her two years as a collegian. The 2007 Associated Press National Player of the Year is the only player in NCAA history to collect 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a single-season – a feat Paris has accomplished twice.
The 6-4 center, who averaged 23.5 points and 15.9 rebounds, was voted the Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year last season after leading the Sooners to title defenses of the conference’s regular season and tournament championships as well as a second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. She was also last year’s Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
Other honorees for the 2007-08 season were Dominic Seals (Texas Tech), who was chosen as preseason newcomer of the year, and Tyra White (Texas A&M), who was named preseason freshman of the year.
Joining Paris on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team were A’Quonesia Franklin (Texas A&M), Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska), Jackie McFarland (Colorado) and Takia Starks (Texas A&M).
Oklahoma’s Ashley Paris was an honorable mention honoree after receiving votes from some coaches for the All-Big 12 team.
OU plays one of the toughest schedules in the nation as it opens with neutral-site contests against the past two national champions, Maryland (Nov. 11 at Chapel Hill, N.C.) and Tennessee (Nov. 15 at Tampa, Fla.) The Sooners then play Arizona State (Nov. 22) and Mississippi State (Nov. 23), leaving OU to start its slate with three teams that ended last year ranked in the top eight.
Oklahoma hosts two exhibition games at the Lloyd Noble Center prior to the start of the regular season. Henderson State visits Thursday, Nov. 1, and OU plays Oklahoma Christian Tuesday, Nov. 6. Both games are a 7 p.m.
Although reserved level tickets have sold out, general admission season tickets remain for the 2007-08 season. Fans interested in purchasing tickets should call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-GoOU or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU. Tickets may also be purchased online by visiting the ticket office link on SoonerSports.com.
2007-08 Big 12 Conference Preseason All-Big 12 Team
(coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players)
Preseason Player of the Year
Courtney Paris (Oklahoma)
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Dominic Seals (Texas Tech)
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Tyra White (Texas A&M)
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
F – Jackie McFarland (Colorado)
F – Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska)
C – Courtney Paris (Oklahoma)
G – A’Quonesia Franklin (Texas A&M)
G – Takia Starks (Texas A&M)
Honorable Mention
Angela Tisdale (Baylor), Danielle McCray (Kansas), Ashley Paris (Oklahoma), Andrea Riley (Oklahoma State), Morenike Atunrase (Texas A&M), Danielle Grant (Texas A&M)
Source: www.soonersports.com
