TO OPEN THE SEASON...

4 GAMES IN 8 DAYS!

(WHO DID THE SCHEDULING?)

Yes, the #2 ranked Stormy Petrels played 4 games in 8 days to open the season.

Here are the details: 

• The Petrels averaged 91 points per game and won by an average of 26.
• The 5 senior starters averaged only 25 minutes per game... but each player averaged 5 rebounds per game, 3 assists, 13 points, and under 3 turnovers per game (which is great considering our pace and it's early in the year).
• Our bench has outscored every opponent's bench.
• For the 4 games, we shot 47% from the floor.
• Averaged over 20 assists per game 
• Forced an average 26 turnovers per game.
• Averaged 10 more rebounds per game then the opponents. (Remember our starting lineup is all but huge... 5'10", 5'8", 5'7, 5'7", 5"6")

83   OU

65   FERRUM

Four players score in double figures, led by Katie Kulavic with 19. Biz Richmann 16 pts., Anna Findley 15 pts. & 8 rebs., and Tina Grace 14 pts. Hannah Brooks chipped in 8 pts., 7 rebs., 6 assists. All dressed players saw action and the team shot 48% from the field.

91   OU

67   PIEDMONT

Every player scored, including new addition Amaris Wilson who has just joined the team (more later). We always count on Brooks to anchor our defense but this season we are looking for her to be more involved in the offense and she has responded by knocking down 10 points. Grace and Richmann each had 13 pts., and 6th man Jamie Osmanson had 10 pts. in 17 minutes. Soph. Ari Brown pulled down a career high 9 rebounds.

87   OU

60   GRINNELL

The Wheaton Invitational Tip-Off Tournament, Wheaton, Il.

Ari Brown continued her excellent play coming off the bench and scored a career high 14 pts., plus pulling down 8 rebs. in only 14 minutes of playing time. Our only true freshman, Rena Crossland, also had a career high 10 points. Soph. post Regi Howell is becoming a real presence in the post. Regi blocked 3 shots, altered 3 others, and had 7 rebs.

99   OU

68   WHEATON

Championship Game, Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament

The Stormy Petrels came out flying and played one of the finest halves of basketball I've seen at OU. By the half, OU held a 61-32 lead with 10 players scoring. Tournament MVP Kulavic had 16 by the half followed by All Tournament select Richmann with 14 and Findley with 11. The Petrels were able to maintain a tempo which suited their style of play, scoring on numerous primary and secondary break situations. When playing in the half court, unselfish play was the rule rather then the exception, as demonstrated by our 14 assists. Again we finished with 4 players scoring double digits. Soph. Kelly Reeves played a very strong 17 minutes, hitting two 3's early, as did Chelsea MacDonald who had 9 pts. The team shot 56% from the field and 48% from behind the 3 point line.

NOW, CAN WE KEEP IT UP?

Our next three games will tell us a lot about where we are.

We have 6 days before our next game at hometown rival Emory on December 2 at 6pm. They're undefeated and playing well and you know they would like nothing more than to stop our run. Remember, they had us down by 20 in the first half last season before we wore them down and won by 12.

AND THEN... 

DEPAUW COMES TO TOWN DECEMBER 5 for the first conference showdown. DePauw is ranked #3 or #5 in both national polls, and as you remember, they clipped our wings 3 times last season. Come support, need I say more!?!

Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2pm, we take on the much-improved Centre Tigers who have the best freshmen class in the conference. So far they're undefeated and have been putting the hurt on whoever they play.

NEW PLAYER

AMARIS WILSON: Amaris returns to the team after taking a year off. Amaris is a 5'9" power forward who has great ups and she'll really help us inside. She's a junior and will be around next season as well. 

HAPPENINGS

• Sad to report that Taymah Jones will be out for the season again. Taymah suffered a torn ACL in her other knee. She's been an inspiation to us all with her hard work and dedication to the team while rehabbing from her first ACL repair. Taymah's mental tenacity is absolutely astounding and I know she is capable of responding again! Her surgery is scheduled for mid-December.
• Special fan in Chicago: Biz Richmann's Granddad, who has never seen her play until our visit last weekend... and Biz did not disappoint.
• More Special Fans in Chicago: A whole horde of Nancy Kulavic's clan including two brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews all yelling "GO KATIE GO". Katie also did not disappoint. Typically, Katie said "It was embarrassing."
• Usual Special Guests in Chicago: Our many loyal parents who made the trip and also took the team downtown on the train to see beautiful (but COLD) Center City Chicago Friday evening.
• OPENING GAMES: A special thx to our home game operations crew, led by head baseball Coach Dan Giordano. I will have to pay off this Philly boy in soft pretzels and Philly Cheesesteaks.
• HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!