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Eagles, foe share traits - Tulsa World (3-4-2007)


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Eagles, foe share traits

By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer

3/4/2007

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UMKC and ORU are post-oriented teams led by a power duo.

There are striking similarities between the Oral Roberts and UMKC women's basketball teams, which could make for an interesting first-round matchup in the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.

In fact, one might think the Kangaroos have patterned their team after ORU, particularly since the two met in the 2004-05 Mid-Continent tournament title game, which ORU won 48-42.

The two teams highlight the second day of first round women's action in the 2:30 p.m. game at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center.

"We're very similar for sure," ORU coach Jerry Finkbeiner said. "They are post-oriented just like we are, and Alysa Klein and Stephanie Brown are having very good years for them."

Klein and Brown have combined for 626 points this season, over a third of Kangaroos' (10-19) points this season. When Brown and Klein have played well, so has UMKC.

The same can be said for Oral Roberts.

Armed with the league's top scorer (17.8) and rebounder (10.3) in Mid-Con player of the year Elisha Turek, the Golden Eagles swept the Kangaroos in regular-season action.

"We need a constant Elisha Turek for three days, then we need someone else on any given night helping her," Finkbeiner said.

Turek has brought her 'A' game over the last three weeks.

"She hasn't just maintained her level of play over the season -- she has exceeded it," Finkbeiner said.

Jenny Hardin has returned to the lineup after missing 10 conference games with a broken foot. She and Turek provide a 1-2 punch in the low post for ORU.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Claremore is averaging 16.3 points a game off the bench for the Golden Eagles.

"We really struggled when Jenny was out of the lineup," Finkbeiner said. "She led the team in charges and was our second leading rebounder. She was great at cutting off the lane and that was a pretty big blow."

Freshman guard Chazny Morris gives the Kangaroos a legitimate perimeter threat. She is averaging 8.5 points a game but has averaged 11 a game in the last five contests.

"They're guards, if they get stats, that helps them," Finkbeiner said. "Just like it does for us."

At this point in the season, the game plan is simple, the ORU coach said.

"What we need more than anything is to have consistent defense," he said. "We've been so inconsistent offensively, particularly since Jenny was out of the lineup. Our mainstay has been our defense on our good wins. Any three-day tournament, you have to have something constant."

ORU handled UMKC handily on the road on Jan. 13, 66-45, then overcame a slow start in the first half of the game in Tulsa to post a 62-53 victory.

"They come into the tournament having beaten Western Illinois (64-61 overtime) at Western Illinois," Finkbeiner said.

The Kangaroos are 2-0 in overtime games this season.

Lynn Jacobsen 581-8461

lynn.jacobsen@tulsaworld.com

Oral Roberts vs. UMKC

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