University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Missouri Southern Edges Bronchos

2/25/2013 9:01:00 PM

McKenzie Solberg

Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. (Feb. 25) – Central Oklahoma missed a pair of free throws with two seconds left and dropped a frustrating 68-66 decision to Missouri Southern here Monday night.

The Lady Lions broke a 66-66 deadlock with two free throws at 0:22 and then blocked a UCO shot with seven seconds remaining that the Bronchos rebounded. Jill Bryan drew a foul at 0:02, but was off the mark on both charity tosses and MSSU rebounded.

UCO immediately fouled and the Lady Lions missed both free throws, with the Bronchos unable to get a last-second shot after Hayley Bryan rebounded the second miss.

It was the sixth loss by four points or less this season for UCO, which fell to 9-15 on the season and 2-14 in the league.

McKenzie Solberg hit 7-of-12 shots and finished with 16 points to lead the Bronchos. Jill Bryan ended with 10 points, four assists and two steals, while Rachel New and Britney Morgan had eight points apiece.

UCO led 35-29 at halftime, but the Lady Lions opened the second half with an 8-0 run to grab the lead. The game went back-and-forth the next nine minutes, with the Bronchos going on top 56-53 with 7:57 left on a three-point play by Alyssa Fuxa.

MSSU answered with nine unanswered points for a 62-56 lead at 4:48, but UCO didn't go away. A Morgan 3-pointer pulled the Bronchos within three at 66-63 at the 2:37 mark and neither team scored again until Solberg tied it with a trey at 0:52 to set the stage for the dramatic ending.

UCO trailed 17-13 seven minutes into the contest before getting baskets from five different players in an 11-0 run to take a 24-17 advantage. The lead peaked at eight, the final time at 29-21 on a Hayley Bryan layup, with MSSU pulling to within 30-29 in the final minute.

The Bronchos then scored the final five points of the half, getting a layup from Jordan Ward and a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Solberg.

UCO stays on the road Wednesday, going to Tahlequah to face Northeastern State.

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