ORU: Player to watch

By Lynn Jacobsen, Tulsa World, Okla.

Nov. 6--Kevi Luper 5-10 Fr. Guard

If Kevi Luper's first college basketball game is any indication, the transition from high school to Division I should be an easy one.

Luper, an all-stater who played at Adair, led Oral Roberts with 24 points, seven steals, five rebounds and three assists in her debut against Southeastern in an exhibition game.

"I don't know about that, I was pretty scared," Luper said. "It's been a lot of fun and competitive. I like to get out and run. "

ORU coach Jerry Finkbeiner said he expects big things out of his young player, which means she must overcome freshman jitters quickly.

"We recruited Kevi and Jaci (Bigham) hard from the very beginning," Finkbeiner said. "We knew what we were getting in both girls. So nothing they do will surprise me."

Said Luper, "That's fine with me. I'm ready to get my career going and win games."

NOTEBOOK Bouncing back: Oral Roberts senior forward Janae Voelker is bouncing back from offseason surgery on her shoulder and wrist.

"I'm feeling good," she said. "I'm healthy and good to go."

That's good news for the Golden Eagles. Voelker led the team in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (8.9) to earn Summit League first-team honors.

The 2009-10 Summit League preseason first-team selection won't have to shoulder the scoring load.

"It's nice, a little bit of a relief," Voelker said. "Scoring wasn't my style when I came here. I've expanded my game to include that and I'm a capable scorer. I hope to get back to what I'm comfortable with as far as hustle plays and rebounding."

Co-MVP candidates: ORU freshmen and roommates Kevi Luper and Jaci Bigham could be in the battle for Summit League MVP, or rather co-MVPs, by the season's end if they continue to play as they did in the team's first exhibition game.

Luper had 24 points, seven steals, three assists and five rebounds. Bigham registered 16 points and seven assists.

"It didn't surprise me a whole lot what they did in the exhibition game," ORU coach Jerry Finkbeiner said. "They are exactly what we needed at the No. 1 and 2 guard."

Jones overcomes surgery: Like Voelker, sophomore guard Georgia Jones is also battling back from an offseason medical issue. She had laser surgery to remove a cyst on her shin.

"It's getting better," said the 2009-10 Summit League Newcomer of the Year. "It hurts, but it's bearable."

With Bigham and Luper in the lineup, Jones will be free to concentrate on her specialty, 3-point shooting.

Last season, she hit 68 3-pointers and scored 12.4 points per game.

Tough schedule: ORU's nonconference schedule includes four Big 12 heavyweights. All are road games. ORU travels to Kansas (Nov. 15), Texas (Dec. 1), Baylor (Dec. 16) and Oklahoma State (Dec. 22).

"Beginning next year, we hope to do some home-and-home scheduling to bring some of these teams here," Finkbeiner said.

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