Sooner Women Picked Third In Big 12 Preseason Poll

With four starters returning from last season’s Big 12 runner-up squad, the Oklahoma women’s basketball team was picked third in this year’s Big 12 Preseason Poll announced by the league office Wednesday.

The Sooners were one of three teams to earn at least one first-place vote from the league’s coaches, who determined the order of finish.

Baylor finished atop the poll with 80 points with eight coaches picking the Lady Bears to win the league. Baylor was followed by Texas (70 points; one first-place vote), OU (69 points; one first-place vote), Iowa State (48 points), TCU (47 points), West Virginia (40 points), Kansas State (36 points), Oklahoma State (27 points), Texas Tech (18 points) and Kansas (15 points).

Oklahoma returns 81 percent of its scoring from last year’s squad and 80 percent of its minutes played. The Sooners also bring back 85 percent of their assists from a year ago along with 80 percent of their made 3-pointers and rebounds.

The returning starters are sophomore guard and preseason All-Big 12 selection Gabbi Ortiz (8.2 ppg; 3.6 apg), junior guard Gioya Carter (9.9 ppg), junior guard Peyton Little (12.6 ppg) and senior forward Kaylon Williams (12.2 ppg; 6.6 rpg).

The Sooners begin the 2015-16 season with a Nov. 4 exhibition game at the Lloyd Noble Center against Southwestern Oklahoma State before opening up the regular season with Winthrop on Nov. 13.