Women's Basketball 12/16/2013 2:27:00 PM

OCU at Southwestern Christian women's basketball preview

Stars open Sooner Athletic Conference play

OCU has won or shared the past five Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championships.

6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17
Pickens-Springer Gymnasium in Bethany, Okla.

THE MATCHUP: Oklahoma City University returns to action for the first time in 18 days against Sooner Athletic Conference newcomer Southwestern Christian on the road.

ABOUT THE STARS: The Stars held off Xavier (La.) 72-70 in overtime Nov. 29 at Abe Lemons Arena. Autumn Lau hit three free throws in the extra period to provide the difference for OCU.
Yvonte Neal, a 5-foot-7 junior from Spring Valley, Calif., spurred on OCU with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Neal supplies OCU with 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.00 steals a game.
Lau, a 5-10 senior from Mount Wolf, Pa., notched her first double-double as a Star with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Lau shot 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. Lau posts 14.3 points and 12.3 rebounds a game, leading the SAC in rebounding. Kayla MacKenzie, a 5-6 senior from Peoria, Ariz., contributed 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. MacKenzie records 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.33 steals per game.
OCU lead the NAIA in offensive rebounding (22.67 rebounds per game) while allowing the lowest 3-point shooting percentage (18.6 percent). To see where OCU ranked against the NAIA statistically last season, click here.
The Stars retained the No. 2 spot in the newest national rankings, picking up one of a possible seven first-place votes. OCU has made the top 25 in all 167 polls since 1999-2000. OCU owns national championships from 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2012. SAC coaches predicted the Stars would win the league title. OCU has won or shared the SAC regular-season crown 14 times, including last season when the Stars became the 10th SAC team to go unbeaten in league play.
OCU will be facing Southwestern Christian for the first time Tuesday in basketball.

ABOUT THE LADY EAGLES: Southwestern Christian won 73-56 over Baker (Kan.) on Nov. 23 at Mid-America Christian's Gaulke Activity Center in Oklahoma City. Southwestern Christian (2-6) captured both its victories this season in the Mid-America Christian Classic on Nov. 22-23.
Kim Hayes, a 5-9 junior, provided her team 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots Nov. 23. Hayes posts 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. Maranda Janz, a 5-7 freshman, had 13 points, two steals and three 3-pointers. Janz averages 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.25 steals per game.
Southwestern Christian has been projected to finish 11th in the 11-team SAC according to the coaches.

ABOUT THE COACHES: Latricia Trammell owns a 96-80 record in six seasons as a college head coach. She reeled off a 28-4 record and became conference coach of the year in her first season as OCU head coach in 2012-13. Trammell returned to OCU last season after serving as Western State (Colo.) head coach from 2007-12. As a head coach, Trammell has coached three all-Americans and 17 all-conference selections, including the co-SAC player of the year, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player of the year and RMAC West Division freshman of the year. Trammell was assistant coach at OCU from 2005-07. As an assistant at OCU from 2005-07, Trammell mentored the Stars' first WNBA draftee, Mariam Sy of the Washington Mystics, 10 all-conference choices, the SAC player of the year, SAC newcomer of the year and four all-Americans. Trammell also spent time as head coach at Midwest City High School and Denton Bill Ryan High School (Texas).
Becky Mitchell is in her 13th season as Southwestern Christian coach. Mitchell has led her team to a 30-41 record in her fourth season since Southwestern Christian became an NAIA member in 2010-11.

FOLLOW THE STARS: Fans can keep up on the latest on OCU athletics through several ways.
Help OCU win an NAIA contest and gain more followers on social media in 2013-14. 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/ocustars.
Be sure to catch the OCU Athletics Update video program weekly on ocusports.com, the OCU YouTube Channel or on OCU Athletics' Facebook page. Click here to see the latest edition.
Know when the game is happening by calling the OCU athletics hotline at (405) 208-5400.

ON THE AIR: Southwestern Christian will provide fans the opportunity to follow the game via live video and live stats.

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