Two ORU Players Could Be Headed To Olympics

TULSA, Oklahoma -- While Georgia Jones and Dominique Allen admit they are focused on getting the Golden Eagles to the NCAA tournament at the moment, it'd be hard for the Oral Roberts duo to not have this summer in the back of their minds already.

The two seniors have a shot at playing for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics in August. This year's Games just happen to be in their home country.

"I've always wanted to play in the Olympics," said Jones, who is averaging 9.2 points per game this season. "That's been my goal. Playing in the Olympics and (playing) in our home country will be an amazing experience if we get the chance."

Jones and Allen have been playing together for four years on junior teams around Great Britain. They both traveled to China with Great Britain's women's national team this past summer to face other top-tier international competition.

They agree that the overseas competition helped them as players.

"It was such an amazing experience," said Allen. "It's a completely different culture. It was amazing."

The two players were given daily workout plans to keep them in shape. There are 24 players on the team right now. That number will be trimmed to 18 before the British team begins training camp on May 1st. Only 12 players will make the final Olympic squad.

"I think this season has really prepared me because I have been under a lot of pressure as a senior," said Allen.

This week the ORU women are trying to win the Summit League tournament for the first since 2008. The time Jones and Allen spent at Oral Roberts, they say, has helped them develop into Olympic-quality players.

For Jones and Allen, the chance to participate this summer is almost too good to be true.

"I'm very proud of being from England," says Jones. "I'm half American, but I'm very proud of where I come from. Playing for your home country is just the best way to show and represent that."

Allen agrees.

"It'll be great," she said. "I think it will be one of the best memories I'll have in my life."

ORU faces Western Illinois in the first round of the Summit League tournament. Game time against the Leathernecks is 2:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.