University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Comeback Falls Short Against UCM

2/7/2013 7:46:00 PM

Jordan Ward

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EDMOND (Feb. 7) -- Central Oklahoma trimmed 20 points off a 27-point second-half deficit, but couldn't complete a miracle comeback against No. 10-ranked Central Missouri Thursday night and ended up dropping a 87-75 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision.

The Bronchos trailed the hot-shooting Jennies 51-30 at halftime and were down by 27 (66-39) five minutes into the second half. UCO mounted a furious rally and used a 28-8 run to get within seven at 74-67 with 6:00 left before UCM scored the next five points to finally put the game away.

It was the 10^th straight loss for the Bronchos, who fell to 8-12 overall and 1-11 in the league. The Jennies improved to 18-2 and 10-2.

Jill Bryan led three UCO players in double figures, hitting four 3-pointers in a 16-point outing while adding four assists. McKenzie Solberg added 14 points off the bench and Alyssa Fuxa had 11.

But the Bronchos had no answer for UCM's Keuna Flax, who hit 11-fo-13 shots in scoring 30 points to go with seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Jennies never trailed after taking a 3-0 lead six seconds into the contest and Flax had 19 points in the first half as the Jennies seized control early en route to their big 21-point halftime bulge.

It was more of the same to start the second half as UCM's lead grew to 27 three times, the final time at 66-39 with 14:57 left to play.

UCO refused to fold, however, going on an 18-2 spurt that Fuxa capped with seven straight points to pull the Bronchos within 11 (68-57) by the 8:42 mark.

The Jennies rattled off two quick buckets to built their lead back to 15 (72-57), but UCO got 3-pointers from Britney Morgan and Chelsi Dennis in a 10-2 run that made it 74-67 with 6:00 still remaining.

Five straight UCM points put the Bronchos in a 79-67 hole at 4:40 and Central managed to get back within eight at 81-73 on Rachel New's 3-pointer with 2:12 to go before the Jennies put the game away at the free throw line.

UCO is back in action again Saturday, hosting Lincoln in another MIAA tilt at 1:30 p.m.

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