University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

No. 2 Hornets Too Much For UCO

1/26/2014 3:18:00 PM

Jill Bryan

Box Score

EMPORIA, Kan. (Jan. 26) – A first-half scoring drought turned a one-point deficit into a 21-point hole and Central Oklahoma never recovered in falling to No. 2-ranked Emporia State 73-50 here Sunday afternoon.

The Bronchos trailed just 20-19 with 10:35 left in the opening half after two Jill Bryan free throws, but UCO managed just seven points the rest of the way in falling behind 47-26 by intermission and never got closer than 16 in the final 20 minutes.

Central made just 3-of-15 field goals and 1-of-5 free throws while also committing five turnovers during that game-deciding run.

It was the second straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association loss for the Bronchos, who fell to 10-8 on the season and 5-6 in the conference. The league-leading Hornets improved to 18-1 and 9-1.

Jill Bryan was the lone player in double figures for UCO, hitting 7-of-8 foul shots in a 16-point outing. Julia Mason finished with eight points, while Olivia Mason had seven points and a team-high six rebounds.

The Bronchos shot just 20 percent (3-of-15) from 3-point range and 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the in the game.

UCO jumped on top early, answering a game-opening bucket by the Hornets with a 9-0 run. Jill Bryan ended that spurt with five straight points, hitting a 3-pointer and a layup.

The Bronchos led 14-11 after a Britney Morgan trey before the Hornets used a 9-3 run to take the lead for good, though UCO was within a point at 20-19 after Bryan's two foul shots at the 10:35 mark.

But the Bronchos managed just three points in the next eight minutes as ESU opened up a 41-21 lead en route to its big halftime cushion.

UCO doesn't play again until hosting Pittsburg State Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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