Oral Roberts caught a break on Wednesday, 10 days before the 2014-2015 season officially starts. The women's basketball team, when it travels to fourth-ranked Tennessee on Nov. 17, won't have to worry about the Lady Vols' Cierra Burdick or Jannah Tucker.
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick announced that Burdick and Tucker would be suspended for two regular-season games, which includes the Golden Eagles' arrival in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The players did "not live up to our academic standards," Warlick said.
The punishments were believed to be related to players missing class, according to a report by the Associated Press.
"You miss a class, you miss a game," Warlick said. Two other stipulations included sitting "in the first three rows" of class, and "you can't be late."
In all, there were four Tennessee players suspended, including Ariel Massengale and Andraya Carter, both of whom will miss the Lady Vols' opener against Penn and then play against ORU.
Massengale, a 5-foot-7 point guard, is the most notable name of the group after she averaged 12.5 points and 5.7 assists for Tennessee last season.
Burdick's presence will be missed inside against ORU. At 6 feet, 2 inches, the Charlotte, N.C. native posted 8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds during her junior campaign last year.
Tucker, who is recovering from a knee injury, will serve her two-game suspension once she's healthy.
The Lady Vols — who made it to the Sweet 16 last season before being eliminated by Maryland — were picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference this season. The league released its preseason poll on Wednesday.
ORU will open the regular season on Nov. 14 at No. 8 Baylor.
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