OU's Paris Brings `Shaq-Like' Game To NCAA Tournament

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Ask Southeast Missouri State about Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, and the Redhawks compare her to one of the NBA's elite big players.<br/><br/>Southeast Missouri State coach John

Friday, March 16th 2007, 6:03 pm

By: News On 6

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Ask Southeast Missouri State about Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, and the Redhawks compare her to one of the NBA's elite big players.

Southeast Missouri State coach John Ishee calls Paris a generational player and says he's never seen anyone quite like the OU sophomore, who averages 23.6 points and 16.2 rebounds a game.

Ishee says Paris is much like Shaquille O'Neal, because she has great footwork and quickness for someone who has that kind of size. He says you can double-team Paris and it won't affect her.

The 14th-seeded Redhawks, who won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, will take a 24-7 record into Saturdayâ€™s first-round NCAA tournament game against OU, which is 26-4 and seeded 3rd in the Dayton Regional.

Paris ranks second in NCAA Division I in rebounding. Southeast Missouri State center Lachelle Lyles ranks first at 17.2 rebounds per game.

Paris needs only 5-points to reach 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career faster than any player in NCAA history.