University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Tough Road Loss

2/6/2014 9:44:00 PM

Haley Weathers

Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Feb. 6) – A frantic late-game rally came up just short and Central Oklahoma dropped a disappointing 63-61 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision to Northeastern State here Thursday night.

The Bronchos overcame a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes to take a 61-60 lead on Haley Weathers' 3-pointer with 38 seconds left, but NSU answered with a 3-pointer of its own at 0:08 to go ahead 63-61 and Julia Mason's tying layup try just ahead of the final buzzer was off the mark.

It was the fourth straight league loss for UCO, including the third by six points or less. The Bronchos fell to 10-10 overall and 5-8 in the league, while the RiverHawks improved to 10-10 and 7-6.

Jill Bryan led UCO with a game-high16 points, while Olivia Mason had 12 points and a game-best 11 rebounds. The Bronchos shot just 33.3 percent from the field, hitting 19-of-57 shots.

UCO had a 38-37 lead with 10:47 left to play on Olivia Mason's 3-pointer, but the RiverHawks responded with a 15-2 run to move in front 52-40 with 5:49 left and it was still a 12-point deficit at 55-43 at the 5:07 mark.

The Bronchos trimmed that to six (57-51) on Julia Mason's three-point play with 3:40 left and Jill Bryan answered an NSU 3-pointer with one of her own to keep it a six-point game at 3:11.

Olivia Mason's layup pulled UCO within 60-56 at 2:06 and she scored another inside bucket a minute later to get the Bronchos within two. NSU missed two free throws and Weathers drilled her go-ahead 3-pointer at 0:38, though it wasn't enough as Fontana Tate hit the game-winner with nine seconds left.

UCO moves on to Pittsburg, Kan. Saturday to take on Pittsburg State at 1:30 p.m. in another conference contest.

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