bluesooner17
Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2010
- Messages
- 863
- Reaction score
- 3
NORMAN — Chelsea Dungee knew something was off in her game when she traveled with the No. 20-ranked Oklahoma women’s basketball team to take on Iowa State two weeks ago.
Normally an aggressive player who frequently found her way to the free throw line, Dungee had just played two games where she didn’t make a single trip to the charity stripe.
The Iowa State game was no different. Again, she didn’t take a single foul shot, and it was more of the same in the next game against Texas Tech.
For the Sapulpa product who made all 34 attempts in a two-game span during the state tournament her senior year, not attempting a single shot was abnormal.
“I went through a spurt when I first got here, I had success and I went through a spurt when I had four games that I didn’t do really well at all,” Dungee said.
“I think it’s a confidence thing, too. But I decided one day, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to be me, and I know my abilities. It really was a confidence thing.”
That day came in the loss to Texas last week when Dungee finished with 15 points, 10 of them coming from a perfect day at the free throw line.
She followed that performance with a seven point effort against Oklahoma State where she hit 5-of-6 foul shots.
All she had to do was channel the calmness and confidence that developed through persistent free throw practice at her hometown YMCA in high school.
“I’d always have to shoot and make 10 free throws in a row,” she said.
“It’s not very many, but if you can make 10 free throws in a row every single day you go into the gym, then that becomes habit.”
Now that she’s back on track, Dungee is playing like a veteran player as OU enters (15-5, 6-2 Big 12) a crucial stretch in conference play beginning with Wednesday night’s game against Iowa State (11-8, 2-6) and Saturday’s match-up at Baylor.
“She seems to be atypical in the regard of all things you think might be a weakness for a freshman tend to be strengths for her,” coach Sherri Coale said.
“She’s always had edge. I think edgy kids, edgy athletes live for those moments. So they throw themselves fully into it.”
Normally an aggressive player who frequently found her way to the free throw line, Dungee had just played two games where she didn’t make a single trip to the charity stripe.
The Iowa State game was no different. Again, she didn’t take a single foul shot, and it was more of the same in the next game against Texas Tech.
For the Sapulpa product who made all 34 attempts in a two-game span during the state tournament her senior year, not attempting a single shot was abnormal.
“I went through a spurt when I first got here, I had success and I went through a spurt when I had four games that I didn’t do really well at all,” Dungee said.
“I think it’s a confidence thing, too. But I decided one day, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to be me, and I know my abilities. It really was a confidence thing.”
That day came in the loss to Texas last week when Dungee finished with 15 points, 10 of them coming from a perfect day at the free throw line.
She followed that performance with a seven point effort against Oklahoma State where she hit 5-of-6 foul shots.
All she had to do was channel the calmness and confidence that developed through persistent free throw practice at her hometown YMCA in high school.
“I’d always have to shoot and make 10 free throws in a row,” she said.
“It’s not very many, but if you can make 10 free throws in a row every single day you go into the gym, then that becomes habit.”
Now that she’s back on track, Dungee is playing like a veteran player as OU enters (15-5, 6-2 Big 12) a crucial stretch in conference play beginning with Wednesday night’s game against Iowa State (11-8, 2-6) and Saturday’s match-up at Baylor.
“She seems to be atypical in the regard of all things you think might be a weakness for a freshman tend to be strengths for her,” coach Sherri Coale said.
“She’s always had edge. I think edgy kids, edgy athletes live for those moments. So they throw themselves fully into it.”