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Big 12 team-by-team preview: Texas, Baylor battle for the top

By Jada Butts

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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07 MAR 2015: Oklahoma Sooners head coach Sherri Coale talks with guard Sharane Campbell-Olds (24) during the NCAA Big 12 Women’s basketball tournament game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the West Virginia Mountaineers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Oklahoma defeats West Virginia 67-55. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
07 MAR 2015: Oklahoma Sooners head coach Sherri Coale talks with guard Sharane Campbell-Olds (24) during the NCAA Big 12 Women’s basketball tournament game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the West Virginia Mountaineers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Oklahoma defeats West Virginia 67-55. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Oklahoma

Projected finish: 4th

Key Returners:

Maddie Manning 12.6 ppg, 42%, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 32 mpg

Vionise Pierre-Louis 11.9 ppg, 52%, 7.9 rpg, 22.7 mpg

Gabby Ortiz 8.9 ppg, 37%, 4.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 27 mpg

Biggest losses:

Peyton Little 12.4 ppg, 38%, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 33 mpg

Gioya Carter 7.7 ppg, 38%, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 21 mpg

Chelsea Dungee 7.4 ppg, 38%, 2.5 rpg, 21 mpg

Newcomers:

Mandy Simpson F, 6-0, Boise, ID, Freshman, #20 forward (Hoopgurlz)

Shanina Pellington G, 5-7, Pickering, Ontario, Freshman, #23 guard (Hoopgurlz)

Ana Lianusa G, 6-0, Choctaw, OK, Freshman, #8 guard (Hoopgurlz)

Head coach: Sherri Coale, a recent Hall of Fame inductee, is entering her 20th season as head of the Oklahoma Sooners. The importance of succeeding as both a student and an athlete is a trademark of her program. With Coale at the forefront, it makes sense as to why her players have such a high basketball IQ. This season she has some core players back, and will rely on them heavily to continue Oklahoma’s winning tradition.

Key non-conference games:

Oregon 11/25

New Mexico 12/16

UConn 12/19

Outlook: Maddie Manning is the face of this team. Being the ultimate senior (it’s her 6th year at OU due to injuries) she will be called upon to carry this team. Gabby Ortiz and Vionise Pierre-Louis can help as they have been pretty consistent in their production in past years. The 3-point threat that Peyton Little brought will be missed, but can be made up for in other areas. The newcomers will need to be able to keep up with the run and gun pace that defines OU. If they could throw in some scoring here and there, I’m sure Maddie will be grateful.

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