SOONER senior on All-America team

<br>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales was named Wednesday to the Associated Press preseason All-America team. <br><br>Dales, the only first-team All-American returning from last season,

Wednesday, November 7th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales was named Wednesday to the Associated Press preseason All-America team.

Dales, the only first-team All-American returning from last season, is the preseason player of the year in the Big 12. She led the Sooners in scoring (16.0) and assists (7.3) last season and was second in rebounding (5.1) and steals (2.4).

``I am excited and honored for this recognition, but most of all I'm very enthusiastic about where our season is headed,'' Dales said. ``I think our team will do some great things this year. Our potential is going to surprise some people, even with our preseason rankings.''

She is joined on the team by Sue Bird of Connecticut, Chantelle Anderson of Vanderbilt, LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State and Alana Beard of Duke.

The All-America team was chosen by a national media panel. Bird was named on 43 of 45 ballots. Dales and Anderson each received 39 votes, Thomas 26 and Beard 24.