Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Southern Nazarene - EXH on October 25, 2026 , Win , 124, to, 39
Final
Women's Basketball
124
vs Southern Nazarene - EXH
39
University of Oklahoma Athletics
November 10, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN – Following a historic opening week to her collegiate career, Oklahoma freshman LeeLee Bell was named the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.
Bell averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game to lead No. 14 Oklahoma to a 2-0 start, highlighted by a 91-79 victory over then-No. 12 North Carolina in Paris.
In her debut against the Tar Heels, Bell poured in a game-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists, becoming the first freshman nationally this century to record that stat line in a collegiate debut against a ranked opponent. Her 25 points also marked the second-highest scoring debut by any player in Oklahoma history.
Bell followed that performance with her first career double-double, tallying 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in a 95-38 rout of Morgan State. With that effort, she became the first Sooner, regardless of class, to post a 20-point, 12-rebound, four-steal performance since 2002.
Bell is the third Sooner to earn the USBWA's Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week honor, joining Nancy Mulkey (2017) and Aaliyah Chavez (2025). Oklahoma legend Courtney Paris was also recognized by the organization as its National Freshman of the Year in 2006, but the organization did not award weekly accolades at the time.
Her SEC honor marks the first time an Oklahoma player has claimed the league's opening Freshman of the Week award in a season. The Sooners have now collected a league-best nine SEC Freshman of the Week honors over the last two seasons, including a conference-record eight by Chavez during the 2025-26 campaign.
Oklahoma returns to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it hosts San Jose State (0-1) at Lloyd Noble Center. The contest will stream on SEC Network+ with tickets available through the Oklahoma Ticket Office.
Bell averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game to lead No. 14 Oklahoma to a 2-0 start, highlighted by a 91-79 victory over then-No. 12 North Carolina in Paris.
In her debut against the Tar Heels, Bell poured in a game-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists, becoming the first freshman nationally this century to record that stat line in a collegiate debut against a ranked opponent. Her 25 points also marked the second-highest scoring debut by any player in Oklahoma history.
Bell followed that performance with her first career double-double, tallying 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in a 95-38 rout of Morgan State. With that effort, she became the first Sooner, regardless of class, to post a 20-point, 12-rebound, four-steal performance since 2002.
Bell is the third Sooner to earn the USBWA's Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week honor, joining Nancy Mulkey (2017) and Aaliyah Chavez (2025). Oklahoma legend Courtney Paris was also recognized by the organization as its National Freshman of the Year in 2006, but the organization did not award weekly accolades at the time.
Her SEC honor marks the first time an Oklahoma player has claimed the league's opening Freshman of the Week award in a season. The Sooners have now collected a league-best nine SEC Freshman of the Week honors over the last two seasons, including a conference-record eight by Chavez during the 2025-26 campaign.
Oklahoma returns to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it hosts San Jose State (0-1) at Lloyd Noble Center. The contest will stream on SEC Network+ with tickets available through the Oklahoma Ticket Office.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballSunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Monday, November 02
Monday, November 02
