Senior guard Danielle Robinson claims the tipoff and drives the lane for a quick two, followed by freshman guard Aaryn Ellenberg, who lays it in off the turnover.

That was the scene last year when the OU women’s basketball team hosted Fresno State for an easy 84-66 Sooner win.

But that season is history; Robinson is gone, and so too are the easy buckets.

This time, when the Sooners face Fresno State on the road Thursday, they enter with a 3-2 record and a starting five with three sophomores and no seniors.

Sophomore Morgan Hook has taken over the point for OU, and not only does she set the tone for the offense but, more importantly for the Sooners, also the defensive attitude.

Hook said a tremendous and improved effort on defense will be necessary against the offensive-minded, long-range Bulldogs.

“Oh, they shoot so many 3-pointers,” Hook said.

When OU hosted the Bulldogs last season, Hook was a freshman reserve, with nine points in the contest and four turnovers.

Hook said she learned after last year’s game with Fresno that they come to play and work hard.

OU’s goal will be to meet that effort, and for Hook, she said that means pushing the ball and staying together as a team.

Luckily for Hook, she has a couple people to rely on.

Ellenberg, now a sophomore, is averaging 20 points through five games, and junior guard Whitney Hand is averaging more than nine points each game.

OU is coming off a 69-63 loss to No. 18 Ohio State on Sunday at home, where the Sooners could not finish a second-half comeback because their first-half struggles were too much to overcome.

The Sooners have the opportunity against Fresno State to correct and learn from Sunday’s mistakes, and that starts with Hook.