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Oct. 30, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma was picked 14th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Top 25 women's basketball poll released Tuesday.

The Sooners were No. 12 in the preseason Associated Press poll released Saturday.

Oklahoma returns seven players, including its starting five, from a squad that finished second in the Big 12 Conference and with 13th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. All-Big 12 First Team members Aaryn Ellenberg and Whitney Hand and the Big 12's Sixth Man Sharane Campbell lead a cast bolstered by the addition of three highly-rated newcomers.

The coaches' top five replicated the media's top five with Baylor the unanimous choice for No. 1 followed by Connecticut, Duke, Stanford and Maryland, respectively.

Notre Dame, Kentucky, Penn State, Louisville and Delaware complete the top 10.

Other OU opponents in the top 25 include No. 17 Vanderbilt, No. 22 West Virginia, No. 24 Oklahoma State and Kansas, which tied for 25th.

Oklahoma hosts Oklahoma Christian in the first of two exhibition games at the Lloyd Noble Center Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Sooner Sports TV on FCS Pacific (COX Ch. 273).

Others receiving votes (with 2011-12 record): DePaul (23-11) 68; South Carolina (25-10) 49; Gonzaga (28-6) 43; Georgetown (23-9) 38; Iowa State (18-13) 33; Rutgers (22-10) 33; Middle Tennessee (26-7) 28; Texas (18-14) 20; LSU (23-11) 11; UCLA (14-16) 11; Michigan (20-12) 7; Virginia (25-11) 7; St. Bonaventure (31-4) 6; Arkansas (24-9) 4; Iowa (19-12) 4; San Diego State (25-7) 3; Brigham Young (26-7) 2; Syracuse (22-15) 2; Marist (26-8).

The USA TODAY Sports/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2012-13 season: Joan Bonvicini, Seattle; Joanne Boyle, Virginia; Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Texas Southern; Matt Corkery, American; June Daugherty, Washington State; Kathy Delaney-Smith, Harvard; Brooks Donald-Williams, McNeese State; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Ronny Fisher, Presbyterian; Beckie Francis, Oakland (Mich.); Stephanie Glance, Illinois State; Sue Guevara, Central Michigan; Bonnie Henrickson, Kansas; Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee; Jim Jabir, Dayton; Karen Kemp, East Tennessee State; Krista Kilburn-Stevesky, Hofstra; Andy Landers, Georgia; Kevin McMillan, Tennessee-Martin; Suzy Merchant, Michigan State; Faith Mimnaugh, Cal Poly; Sherri Murrell, Portland State; John Olenowski, Manhattan; Kathy Olivier, UNLV; Jennifer Rizzotti, Hartford; Eric Simpson, Loyola (Ill.); David Six, Hampton; Charlotte Smith, Elon; Ed Swanson, Sacred Heart; Paul Thomas, Saint Mary’s; Joi Williams, Central Florida.