OUGrizzlies.com recently had the chance to visit with two time all-league women's basketball player Jessica Pike about her off-season preparations, her experience as an OU student-athlete, and her thoughts on the 2008-09 women's basketball season.

OUGrizzlies.com: Now that finals are over, what do you plan to do over the summer?

Pike: My summer is packed! I am spending a month in Africa, riding the Tri-State Trek for ALS research, and going to Finland for our team's international trip. I'll be taking classes, working, and training! I really like to use the off-season to play as much as possible. Pick-up games and open gyms are the best part of the summer training! I also try to get stronger and faster.

OUGrizzlies.com: What do you do in the off-season to prepare for the upcoming season?

Pike: The 2008-2009 season is going to be great! We are very strong, having nearly everyone back. The sophomores have a year of experience under their belts now and I feel it will help them contribute even more in the upcoming season (even though they all had outstanding freshmen seasons). We have two spectacular freshmen coming in. I see great things for the future of this team!

OUGrizzlies.com: What is your outlook for the team in the 2008-09 season?

Pike: My personal goals for this season are to improve personally. Obviously, I want to improve on paper and improve my stats from last season. More importantly, I want to improve in areas that will make this team better overall. Emerging as a more vocal leader and bringing this team together to work as one, integrated whole are two important goals of mine.

OUGrizzlies.com: You are a two-time all-league honoree, and have emerged as one of the top scoring threats in The Summit League. What sort of personal goals have you set for this coming season?

Pike My teammates are the reason why I have had any success at all. They have confidence in me, they support me, they pick me up when I am off. No one person can win a basketball game alone and luckily I have the best teammates around me!

OUGrizzlies.com: Over the course of your career, who have been the toughest players you've gone up against?

Pike: Bonner (Auburn) was a phenomenal player. Davenport (Ohio State) was another great player we went up against (NCAA tournament). And I'd have to say just about every player in UConn's starting line-up!

OUGrizzlies.com: What is the best part of being a student-athlete at Oakland University? The worst part?

Pike: The best part of being a student-athlete is traveling. I love the fact that our league takes us all over the country and I've had the opportunity to go places I have never been before! The worst part of being a student-athlete is missing so much class. It can be difficult to not fall behind in the coursework when you miss two or three classes in a row!

OUGrizzlies.com: Who has had the biggest influence on your basketball career?

Pike: My family has been a big influence on my basketball career, with their constant support and encouragement since I started playing. All of my past coaches, especially my AAU coach, Poncho, have impacted my career. Poncho really helped me become the player I am now and I would not be here if it wasn't for him challenging me to constantly improve.

OUGrizzlies.com: What's your favorite place to hang out on the OU campus?

Pike: I think my favorite place to hang out at OU would have to be my apartment. The student apartments on-campus are super nice and I have the best roommates in the world, so we always have a lot of fun!

OUGrizzlies.com: What made you choose Oakland University?

Pike: I choose Oakland because (1) my major, Wellness, Health Promotion, and Injury Prevention, was a unique program and really interested me, (2) the basketball program was already a successful one, and (3) it was close to home.

OUGrizzlies.com: What is the best advice you have ever been given, and who gave it to you?

Pike: The best advice I have ever been given was by my parents and it was to just enjoy this time-- don't take things too seriously and to have fun. These four years go by way too quick, trust me!

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