A Sweet Valentine's Day For UCO

2/14/2011 9:02:57 PM

Alyssa Fuxa

Box Score

COMMERCE, Texas (Feb. 14) -- Ashley Beckley had a Valentine's Day to remember here Monday night, dominating play in the post to lead Central Oklahoma to a much-needed 84-65 Lone Star Conference North Division trouncing of Texas A&M-Commerce.

Beckley scored 24 points, pulled down a career-best 14 rebounds -- including 13 in the first half alone -- and added four assists as the Bronchos ended a two-game league losing streak to stay in the thick of the LSC North race.

UCO had three other players score in double figures and never trailed in improving to 14-7 on the year and 7-2 in the North Division. The Bronchos return home Wednesday to host Texas Woman's in a crucial LSC North showdown.

“After two tough losses we really needed to come out with a sense of urgency tonight and I thought we did that,” UCO coach Guy Hardaker said. “We were aggressive from the start and got a win we had to have.”

Beckley was 7-of-14 from the field and 10-of-16 from the line in her 24-point outing and was assured of her ninth double-double (points-rebounds) game of the season by halftime with 14 points and 13 boards.

Alyssa Fuxa hit all three of her 3-point tries in finishing with 14 points, while Alex Richardson and Kylie Mayes added 10 points apiece. Britney Morgan chipped in eight points and eight assists.

The Bronchos shot a solid 45.9 percent (28-of-61) from the field -- including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from long range -- in breaking a shooting slump that saw UCO shoot just 26.5 percent (36-of-136) overall and 13.1 percent (5-of-38) from outside the arc in its two-game losing streak.

Beckley gave the Bronchos a lead it would never relinquish in the opening minute by making one of two free throws and Richardson hit the first 3-pointer of her career seconds later to quickly make it 4-0.

The lead was 8-6 when Beckley and Richardson scored four points each in a 10-0 run that put UCO on top 18-6 at the 13:30 mark and the Bronchos extended that to a 20-point cushion (30-10) with 6:34 left on a short Beckley jumper.

UCO went on to a commanding 44-18 advantage by halftime and went up 30 (50-20) early in the second half on a Morgan 3-pointer. The lead peaked at 37 (65-28) when Fuxa drained her third and final trey with 9:56 remaining and the Bronchos cruised in from there.

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