University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Cold Spell Costs Bronchos

1/12/2012 11:15:00 PM

Courtney Harper

Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Jan. 12) – Sixteen consecutive missed shots turned a four-point first-half lead into a 13-point deficit and Central Oklahoma went on to drop a 59-40 decision to No. 12-ranked Northeastern State here Thursday night.

The cold-shooting Bronchos led 11-7 just over seven minutes into the game, but didn't score again until 19 seconds remained in the first half and that was to get within 26-13 at intermission.

UCO never got closer than that 13-point deficit in the second half and lost its second straight in falling to 10-7 on the year. The RiverHawks improved to 14-1.

“We got off to a good start and were playing pretty well and then we couldn't hit anything,” head coach Guy Hardaker said. “We missed a bunch of easy shots during that stretch and you can't get behind like that when you're on the road playing a good team.”

The Bronchos shot a mere 17.9 percent (5-of-28) in the opening half and finished at 29.1 percent (16-of-55) for the game, including only 17.2 percent (5-of-29) from 3-point range.

Courtney Harper was the only player in double figures with 11 points while also pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Savannah Hamilton added eight points.

UCO jumped out to a 5-0 lead as Harper opened the game with a 3-pointer and a layup off a missed NSU shot, with the RiverHawks coming back to tie it at 7-all.

The Bronchos got one free throw from Savannah Hamilton at the 13:03 mark to regain the lead and made it 11-7 on Britney Morgan's 3-pointer at 12:40 before going stone cold.

UCO wouldn't score again until Morgan came up with a steal and fed Autumn Huffman for a layup at 0:19 to stop NSU's 19-0 run and make it 26-13 at the break.

The Bronchos could get no closer in the second half and finished with their lowest-scoring game since scoring 39 in a 79-39 loss to Angelo State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament in 2005.

UCO continues its nine-game road-swing next week, going to Lindenwood on Thursday and McKendree on Saturday.

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