The Women’s Basketball team is slated at the top of the NAIA Division I rankings for this season.
They are expected to capture their sixth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference title. The Stars took their seventh national title in March of this year.
OCU opens its season against NCAA Division I foes Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, then Texas at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 in away games. Later in their season, the Stars will play four of their national tournament rivals from last season.
Latricia Trammell, the team’s head coach, said that this year is the toughest she’s seen the women play yet in a recent press release.
“We have a challenging schedule,” Trammell said in the release. “It’s the toughest since I’ve been here.”
The team includes returning players who will lead the squad, and new players that will provide a fresh take to the game.
Yvonte Neal, criminal justice senior, will lead her team as a captain this year. Neal is well known for her ability to supply long-range shots across the court. Last season, she became a second-team all-American and shared the league player of the year honor. In the national title game last March, she earned 36 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals to lead the stars to the win.
Ouleymatou Coulibaly, kinesiology senior, is also a returning player and team captain. Ouleymatou collected third-team all conference honors in 2013-14.
Cetoria Petties, kinesiology senior, will also return as a team captain this fall. She helped lead the team with confident skills last season. Markeisha Johnson, criminal justice junior, will also return to bring leadership as a team captain. She started 26 games last season.
Albany Anderson, mass communications sophomore, rounds out the returning captain’s list. After limited action last season, she will help to lead the Stars in the 2014-15 conference.
Trammell said that the team is learning how to work with new and returning members.
“We have to get to know each other better and how everyone plays on the court especially early in the season,” Trammell said.
Watch Trammell talk about her team in an Athletic Update.
Visit ocusports.com for Women’s Basketball updates and news.
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