University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Late UCO Rally Falls Short

2/28/2014 6:55:00 PM

Hayley Bryan

KEARNEY, Neb. (Feb. 28) – Central Oklahoma's frantic late-game rally fell short and the Bronchos dropped a 76-71 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision to Nebraska-Kearney here Friday night.

UCO trailed by 17 points midway through the second half before coming back to get within one with less than two minutes remaining, but the Lopers held on to hand the Bronchos the regular season-ending defeat.

Central fell to 11-15 overall and finished 10th in the league at 6-13. The Bronchos travel to Lindenwood Monday for a 7 p.m. game in the first round of the MIAA Post-season Tournament.

Hayley Bryan led the Bronchos with 15 points, while Jill Bryan and Britney Morgan had 13 apiece and Olivia Mason 10.

UCO trailed 45-35 at halftime, fell behind 54-38 early in the second half and was down 62-45 at the 10:23 mark before rallying.

The Bronchos cut the lead to 10 at 64-54 with 6:41 left and was still down by 10 (69-59) a couple of minutes later before Haley Weathers hit a 3-pointer and Hayley Bryan a short jumper to pull within 69-64.

It was 71-66 after Marley Anderson scored with 1:54 remaining and a quick UNK turnover led to Olivia Mason's three-point play that made it 71-69 with 1:40 to play.

The Lopers made one of two free throws at 1:20 to make it 72-69 before Jill Bryan's layup off a Morgan assist had UCO within one at 72-71 at the 1:11 mark.

UNK went up 74-71 with two free throws at 0:43, but the Bronchos missed a 3-pointer on their next offensive possession and the Lopers were able to close out the win.

The Lopers by as many as 15 in the first half before the Bronchos managed to cut it to 10 (45-35) by intermission on Hayley Bryan's 3-pointer with one second left.

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