Second Half Slump Costs UCO

11/14/2014 3:12:00 PM

Haley Weathers

Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Nov. 14) – A cold-shooting second half cost Central Oklahoma here Friday afternoon as the Bronchos fell to Southeastern Oklahoma 69-66 on the first day of the 2014 Stuteville Automotive Group MIAA/GAC Basketball Challenge.

UCO led by as many as 15 points in the first 10 minutes and were up by nine (36-27) at halftime before making only 11-of-34 shots in the final 20 minutes as the Savage Storm rallied.

The Bronchos (0-1) return Saturday to take on Northwestern Oklahoma at 2 p.m.

"We didn't do a good job running our offense in the second half and certainly didn't shoot the ball well," head coach Guy Hardaker said. "We played well in stretches, especially early in the game, but we weren't nearly as consistent as we needed to be."

UCO trailed just 67-66 after Haley Weathers hit a 3-pointer with 1:54 left to play, but the Bronchos didn't score again.

The teams traded turnovers and UCO had the ball in the final 30 seconds before missing two shots. SOSU made two free throws with six seconds left to go up 69-66 and the Bronchos couldn't get off a tying 3-point try.

Weathers made four treys and led UCO with 14 points, while Kylie Mayes added 13 as the only two players in double figures. Olivia Mason had eight points and a team-high six rebounds.

Mayes had two buckets in the first two minutes to stake the Bronchos to a quick 4-0 lead and that grew to a 19-4 advantage just six minutes in as Weathers had two 3-pointers while O. Mason and Marley Anderson also hit from long range.

It was still a 15-minute cushion at 27-12 with 7:35 left after a Sierra Moore layup and again with 3:11 remaining at 34-19 after two Julia Mason free throws, but the Savage Storm ended the half with an 8-2 run to pull within 36-27 by intermission.

SOSU opened the second half with an 18-6 scoring spurt to move in front 45-42, but the Bronchos rebounded to regain the lead at 59-55 with 6:15 following the second of two straight Hayley Bryan 3-pointers.

The Savage Storm went ahead 63-61 two minutes later and UCO never regained the lead.

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