Manning amps up offensive aggression
NORMAN — Entering her final year of eligibility, Maddie Manning knows she’s got one last shot to be the dominant scorer Oklahoma needs.
“Everybody in Norman, Oklahoma, has told me they want me to score more in the past two years,” Manning said. “It’s no secret. That’s what the coaches want, that’s what my team needs. But now, it’s inside me. It’s part of my DNA. I’d say I get mad if I don’t get the ball, which is a good thing for our team.”
Manning, who gained an extra year of eligibility after missing the majority of her first two seasons with knee injuries, averaged 12.6 points per game and earned a Big 12 honorable mention for her efforts.
Freshmen adjust to the learning curve
After spending the summer playing international basketball with the Canada Women’s U19 World Cup Team, Oklahoma freshman Shaina Pellington took some time to adjust to life on a college campus.
She joined the team late, arriving in Oklahoma after Canada won the bronze medal in the World Cup, and had to quickly acclimate to the rigors of being a student-athlete.
“Coach (Sherri) Coale did a good job of making sure I was getting up to speed, making sure I was comfortable,” she said. “In terms of what’s happening right now, I feel like I’m up to speed and comfortable with where I’m at. It’s only a learning experience from here on out.”
While Pellington took more time to settle in as a late arrival, fellow freshmen Mandy Simpson and Ana Llanusa used summer workouts to settle into college basketball.
“All of these three freshmen are learners,” Coale said. “They really discuss information, make it a part of them and then move on to something else. That has me very excited because they all get a hitch and a need for what we have. They are all very different. Shaina is a speedy, athletic point guard. Ana is a scorer and perceptive athlete. Then Mandy has the ability to do all the things that are the pause between the notes that make it work.
“The three of them are very complimentary of one another and all have proven to be very conscientious of one another.” Ortiz shifts to the wing After playing point guard for three seasons, senior Gabbi Ortiz is taking on a different challenge in her final season with the Sooners.
Instead of exclusively handling point guard duties, Ortiz will move to the wing.
“It’s different,” Ortiz said. “I’ve played point guard my whole life and now my senior year of basketball, they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re going to push you over to the 2.’ I’m going with the flow because I know I’ll still have the ball in my hands, and if I need to run it, I will.
“I look at it as it’s fun. I’m in a different spot, and it’s easier. I can just spot up and look to score. I’ve never been in that, where I can just do one role.”