UCO Hosts No. 4 Tigers Thursday

2/24/2015 2:37:00 PM

McKenzie Solberg

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Central Oklahoma closes out the regular season with two home games this week as the Bronchos try to clinch a home berth for the first round of the conference tournament.

UCO, 15-11 on the season and 8-9 in the league, takes on No. 4-ranked Fort Hays State at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Nebraska-Kearney at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Tigers are 24-2 and 16-1, having already clinched at least a share of the MIAA title. The Lopers are 11-15 overall and 5-12 in the conference.

UCO is tied for sixth in the standings, needing one win this week to secure a first-round game for the MIAA Post-season Tournament that starts next Tuesday.

The top four teams earn byes into the quarterfinals, while teams 5-8 host teams 9-12. The final three rounds of the tournament are held in Kansas City, Mo. March 6-8.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is 7-3 at home this season, with all three of those losses coming in the last four home outings.

The Bronchos are averaging 66.1 points a game and giving up 61.5. UCO ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (77.1) and has outscored teams 394-248 at the line.

Three players are averaging in double figures – junior Julia Mason (10.2), senior Kylie Mayes (10.0) and sophomore Olivia Mason (10.0).

J. Mason, who scored 23 points in last Saturday's loss to NSU, adds 4.7 rebounds a game and is shooting 78.5 percent from the line.

Mayes is shooting a team-high 46.9 percent from the field and is averaging 4.3 rebounds a contest.

O. Mason missed the NSU game to injury, but is expected back this week. She leads the team in rebounding (5.2) and 3-pointers made (43) and attempted (118), shooting 36.4 percent from long range.

ABOUT FHSU: The Tigers top the conference in scoring (75.7), margin of victory (20.5), assists (15.3) and steals (9.1).

Kate Lehman is second in the MIAA in scoring (20.2) and rebounding (10.5) while ranking first in field goal percentage (58.9) and blocked shots (4.3).

FHSU won this year's first meeting, 60-52 in Hays, Kan. on Jan. 15.

The Tigers have a 5-1 lead in the series, having won the last five meetings.

ABOUT UNK: The Lopers are averaging 69.4 points a game and allowing 73.2 while leading the league in 3-pointers per game (6.5) and 3-point percentage (37.7).

Amarah Williams is averaging 15.0 points and 7.8 rebounds a game while shooting 55.9 percent from the field to lead UNK. Laramey Lewis tops the MIAA in 3-point percentage (43.7) in adding 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds a contest.

The Lopers have a 4-1 series lead and earned a 65-62 victory in this season's first meeting on Jan. 17 in Kearney, Neb.

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