JACKSON, Tenn. – Oklahoma City University will seek its sixth women's basketball national championship starting with a matchup vs. Shorter (Ga.) at 1:45 p.m. March 17 in the NAIA Division I Tournament at Oman Arena.
Five-time national champion OCU has previously won crowns in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. The sixth-ranked Stars (29-3) advanced to the tournament by capturing the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title on Saturday and grabbed one of four tournament No. 1 seeds.
OCU also won a share of the conference regular-season championship. The Stars entered this season tied with Connecticut for the most wins (303) in women's college basketball over the past nine seasons.
The Stars advanced to the national tournament for the 13th consecutive year in OCU's history. OCU holds a 44-10 all-time record in the tournament for the second most wins in the event's history.
OCU coach Rob Edmisson became the SAC coach of the year for the second time in five seasons directing the Stars. OCU has a winning streak of 23 games.
“There are six or seven teams that will have a chance to win the national championship, and I think we're one of those teams,” Edmisson said. “It takes a lot of luck, you have to be injury-free and you have to stay away from a bad-shooting night. A lot of things have to go right to win it. We think we have a chance to make a run. I'm proud of this team. We're anxious and excited to get to Tennessee. We were hoping to get a No. 1 seed, and we feel like we deserve it. We beat Oklahoma Baptist twice out of three games. It was a tough conference.”
The Stars have overcome double-digit deficits three times this season to win.
“It's probably the toughest team, the team that has the most character and the most heart of any team I've coached in my 23 years,” Edmisson said. “A lot of people keep telling us we have had a lot of luck winning those close games. At some point luck comes because of preparation, toughness and character. Our kids refuse to lose, period. Sure enough, they keep getting it done.”
The Stars' Donica Cosby, a 5-foot-8 junior from Coldwater, Miss., earned the SAC newcomer of the year award as well as the most valuable player of the SAC Tournament. Cosby leads the team with 14.6 points and 2.00 steals a game, ranking third in the conference in scoring. She has reached 30 points in two contests this season.
Holly Hardin, a 6-foot senior from Chickasha, Okla., picked up her second first-team all-conference honor. Hardin averages 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocked shots a game.
Starr Fairbanks, a 6-2 junior from Cincinnati, garnered first-team all-SAC acclaim. Fairbanks records 12.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Fairbanks has shot 57.8 percent from the field to lead the conference and rank fifth in the NAIA.
Lauren Gober and Chontaye Walter were also honorable-mention all-SAC selections. Gober, a 6-1 freshman from Newcastle, Okla., became the SAC freshman of the year. Laura Duncan, a 5-8 senior from Edmond, Okla., has compiled 1,000 career points and took the SAC Tournament hustle award.
For ticket information, go here.
Fans can follow the tournament via live audio by clicking here. Greg Merick and Andrew Himes will have the call.
The first 30 games of the Championships will be video-streamed live on the NAIA web site. Click here for details. The national championship game will air on national television March 23 on CBS College Sports Network.
