(3) Stanford vs. (2) Oklahoma

Oklahoma has no seniors in its starting lineup and is led by a freshman. That hasn’t tempered expectations for the second-seeded Sooners, who have advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time in four years.

Oklahoma (31-4) plays third-seeded Stanford (25-7) on Saturday as it tries to advance to the regional final for the first time since that 2002 season, when the Sooners reached the national championship game before losing to Connecticut.

Freshman Courtney Paris is the main reason why the Sooners are on a 19-game winning streak—longest in school history—and have easily defeated their opponents in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Despite being double- and triple-teamed, Paris had 30 points and 15 rebounds in Oklahoma’s 86-70 win over BYU in the second round. That followed a 27-point, 11-rebound performance in a 78-66 victory over Pepperdine in the opener.

“She’s Shaq in women’s basketball,” BYU coach Jeff Judkins said.

The 6-foot-4 center is the first player in NCAA history to have 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in one season, and she owns the Big 12 single-season points record with 762.

Paris is averaging 21.8 points and an NCAA-best 14.9 rebounds, has 27 straight double-doubles and is closing in on the NCAA single-season rebound record as her team tries for the second regional final in school history.

“There’s only 16 of us left. It’s definitely a big deal and a big situation,” said Paris, who needs 12 rebounds to break the NCAA record of 534 set by Drake’s Wanda Ford in 1985.

“It all comes down to what you do on the court, and that’s the big part. The process sounds really fun though. Just everything with it—getting there and practicing and being part of it all—is really fun.”

Oklahoma has exceeded expectations all season, finishing undefeated in the Big 12 and winning the conference tournament while starting four juniors and Paris.

“These guys haven’t been to the Sweet 16 before. This is a whole new deal for them,” Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. “They’re excited but they’re not giddy, which is good, which tells me that they expected to be here.”

Stanford has advanced to the regional semifinals for the fourth time in five years, mainly because of Candace Wiggins.

The sophomore guard had 34 points and seven rebounds as the Cardinal beat Florida State 88-70 in the second round Monday.

The two-time Pac-10 player of the year moved into 17th place on Stanford’s all-time points list. Her career average of 19.5 points is nearly two better than Jeanne Ruark Hoff (1978-83), who’s second on the list.

“She’s the kind of player who makes everyone around her better,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “She’s just going to have to stay at Stanford for six or seven years.”

Stanford—which has advanced to six Final Fours and won national titles in 1990 and 1992—is looking for its third straight regional final appearance.

Oklahoma and Stanford have split two meetings in the NCAA tournament, both in the second round. The Cardinal lead the series 3-2.

The winner faces No. 1 LSU or fourth-seeded DePaul in the regional final Monday.