1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Abe Lemons Arena
THE MATCHUP: Oklahoma City University begins the season by taking on regional foe Langston.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students. Admission is free for all OCU athletic events to OCU faculty, staff and students with their ID.
ABOUT THE STARS: OCU went 31-6 last season and advanced to the NAIA Division I semifinals. The Stars won the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
Holly Hardin, a 6-foot junior from Chickasha, Okla., topped OCU with 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.03 steals and 1.53 blocks a game in 2008-09. Hardin became a second-team all-American and SAC co-newcomer of the year.
Laura Duncan, a 5-8 senior from Edmond, Okla., averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.68 steals a game. Duncan made honorable-mention all-conference last season.
Chontaye Walter, a 5-8 senior from Oklahoma City, recorded 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.81 steals a contest last season. Walter ranked sixth in the NAIA in 3-point shooting (43.4 percent) and in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Stars have been ranked eighth in NAIA Division I in the preseason. OCU has been picked to finish second in the conference.
OCU leads the overall series against Langston 23-1. The Stars knocked off Langston 71-50 on Nov. 15, 2007 in Langston, Okla.
ABOUT THE LADY LIONS: Northwestern Oklahoma State edged Langston 84-82 on Wednesday in Alva, Okla.
Sanetra Jackson, a 5-7 senior, led Langston with 33 points, knocking in four 3-pointers. Latesha Calton-Woods, a 5-9 senior, scored 25 points.
Langston has been favored to win the Red River Athletic Conference. Langston received votes in the preseason NAIA rankings.
ABOUT THE COACH: Rob Edmisson has posted a stellar 118-22 record in four seasons at OCU and a 420-141 record overall in 19 years as a head coach. Edmisson has led the Stars to SAC regular-season championships twice and the SAC Tournament title three times. Edmisson coached the only player drafted into the WNBA from OCU, Mariam Sy. He won 192 games at Hutchinson (Kan.) and 110 as a high-school coach in Kansas.
Langston went 28-6 in Jerome Willis' first season as its head coach. Willis guided Langston to the Red River Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament crowns before losing in the first round of the NAIA Division I Tournament.
QUOTABLE: “With our returnees we have, the expectations will be high. Finishing one second short of being in the national championship game should be all the motivation they need.” – Edmisson
FOLLOW THE STARS: Fans can keep up on the latest on OCU athletics through several ways.
Become a fan of the Oklahoma City University Stars on Facebook by going to www.facebook.com/ocustars.
Become a follower of the OCU Stars on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ocustars.
Check out video of the Stars in action at www.youtube.com/oklahomacityuniver.
Listen to past game broadcasts and pregame and postgame interviews on the OCU pod center by clicking here.
Know when the game is happening and get scores and highlights following by calling the OCU athletics hotline at (405) 208-5400.
BUY SEASON TICKETS: To purchase OCU season tickets, click here.
ON THE AIR: OCU home games will be broadcast regularly via the OCU athletics web site. Greg Merick will have the call, and Andrew Himes will provide color commentary. Click here to listen to the broadcast, here for the live stats and here for details on the video stream.
