February 28, 2013

Whitney Hand Named to Good Works Team

University of Oklahoma graduate Whitney Hand was named to the Inaugural Allstate WBCA Division I Good Works Team, announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Tuesday.

The 2013 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team is composed of college women's basketball student-athletes who make outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. These individuals embody the true spirit of "teamwork" and "giving back" through commendable acts of kindness.

Baseball: Matt Oberste Named Player of the Week Again

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Oklahoma baseball team's junior infielder Matt Oberste has been named the Big 1conference2 Conference's Player of the Week, marking the first time a Sooner has earned back-to-back  player of the week honors since Garrett Buechele achieved the feat in 2011.

Oberste continued his white-hot start to the 2013 season, helping the Sooners go 5-0 last week to open the 2013 campaign with a perfect 9-0 mark. Oberste hit .450 with a team-high nine hits – including two doubles and two home runs – to go along with a team-high eight RBI and four runs scored. He earned All-2013 Kleberg Bank College Classic Team honors after batting a team-best .417 with five hits – including a double and a home run – to go along with five RBI and a run scored over three games at the weekend classic in Corpus Christi, Texas.

WBB: Aaryn Ellenberg Named a Naismith Award Candidate

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma women's basketball's Aaryn Ellenberg was designated one of 30 candidates eligible for the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Ellenberg, who leads the Sooners in scoring with 18.6 points per game, is one of the basketball's preeminent shooting guards. The Las Vegas, Nev., native tops Big 12 Conference 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.

MBB: Longhorns Defeat Sooners in OT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- When Oklahoma's Amath M'Baye leaped to dunk and flashed an upside-down "Hook'em Horns" hand sign, the Sooners were in complete control of archrival Texas with a 22-point lead in the second half.

And then Texas' Myck Kabongo took over and the Longhorns salvaged a sliver of fun in an otherwise miserable season by rallying to a wild 92-86 overtime victory Wednesday night.

February 27, 2013

WBB: Jan Ross Wins WBCA's Carol Eckman Award

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma assistant women's basketball coach Jan Ross is the winner of the 2013 Carol Eckman Award, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.

The Carol Eckman Award is presented annually to an active WBCA member coach who exemplifies Eckman's spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose.

Softball: Weather Forces Schedule Changes

The No. 1 University of Oklahoma softball team has been forced to alter its schedule this weekend due to poor weather and field conditions.

The Sooners' home opener will take place on Friday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. against the University of Houston. On Saturday, OU will host Nebraska in a doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m.

February 26, 2013

Softball: Keilani Ricketts Earns Pitcher of the Week Honors

NORMAN, Okla. – Senior Keilani Ricketts dominated the competition at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic last weekend and has earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for her efforts, the conference announced Tuesday.

In posting a 3-0 record, Ricketts did not allow a single run in 23.1 innings of work, including 21.0 innings against teams ranked or receiving votes. She struck out 34 batters and gave up just five hits to go with three walks allowed as the No. 1 Oklahoma softball team went 5-0 over the weekend to improve to 15-0 on the year.

Jerry Montgomery Officially Added as Defensive Line Coach

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops announced Tuesday that Jerry Montgomery has been added to the OU staff as defensive line coach. Montgomery joins the Sooners after spending the previous two seasons in the same capacity at the University of Michigan.

"Jerry Montgomery is a talented coach who further strengthens our staff at the University of Oklahoma," Stoops said. "I have closely followed Jerry's progress as he has ascended through the coaching ranks. I have been impressed by his ability to recruit some of the nation's top student-athletes and then develop their skills once they arrive on campus. We are excited to have Jerry and his family join the Sooners."

February 6, 2013

DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Will Sign With the Sooners, After Committing to OSU

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo made a decision in December that hadn't been made by a college football recruit since 2009.

He dropped his commitment to Oklahoma State and switched to Oklahoma.

The last Sooner to do that was former defensive back Demontre Hurst, who just completed his senior season.

February 5, 2013

Spring Game Set for 2 p.m.

NORMAN, Okla. - Kickoff for the University of Oklahoma Spring Football Game presented by U.S. Fleet Tracking is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Advance tickets are currently available for $5 online or by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-4668. The price will increase to $10 on April 10.

The OU Spring Game presented by U.S. Fleet Tracking is part of a full day of activities slated for that date, including the second annual Big Boomer BBQ and the OU Spring Sale. Fans can enjoy a variety of local barbecue while also enjoying live music and kids' amusement rides.

February 1, 2013

Softball: Sooners Trio Named to Top 50 Watch List

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma softball has landed three players on the Top 50 “Watch List” for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the Amateur Softball Association of America and USA Softball announced Friday.

Senior Keilani Ricketts, winner of the 2012 USA Softball Player of the Year, fellow senior Jessica Shults and sophomore Lauren Chamberlain represent the Sooners on the list. It’s the third year in a row that Ricketts and Shults have been on the list, while Chamberlain is in her first year and joins as one of eight sophomores.

Whitney Hand Voted Academic All-District

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma's Whitney Hand was voted to the 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-District Women’s Basketball Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

It is the second such honor for Hand, who was an Academic All-District First Team member last season.

Hand graduated with an undergraduate GPA of 3.76, earning her bachelor’s in health and exercise science. The Fort Worth, Texas, native has maintained a 4.00 GPA through her master’s studies in human relations.

Baseball: Dillon Overton Named Preseason All-American

Credit: SoonerSports.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team's junior left-handed pitcher Dillon Overton has been named to Baseball America's 2013 Preseason All-America Third Team.

Overton was one of five Big 12 players to garner preseason All-America recognition from Baseball America.

Overton earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in 2012 after ranking second in the conference in both strikeouts (126) and innings pitched (122.2). He went 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA over 22 appearances, including 16 starts. The Weatherford, Okla., native owns a career record of 14-7 and a career ERA of 2.83, fanning 185 over 45 appearances and 197.0 innings pitched. He garnered First Team Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper after going 8-4 with a 2.30 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 2011.

Incoming Recruit Says He'll Start as a Freshman

Oklahoma must replace both of its starting safeties next season, and OU commitment Hatari Byrd told The Oklahoman one of the spots already belongs to him.

Byrd, a four-star prospect from Central High in Fresno, Calif., said Sooner coaches have told him that he's going to start as a true freshman.

“I'm going to come in and work really hard — that's the type of player I am — but they told me I'm going to be the starter,” Byrd said in a telephone interview.

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