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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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Melinda Murillo
Melinda Murillo
58
NW Missouri NWWBB 5-3, 0-1 MIAA
68
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 5-0, 1-0 MIAA
NW Missouri NWWBB
5-3, 0-1 MIAA
58
Final
68
Central Oklahoma UCO
5-0, 1-0 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
NW Missouri NWWBB 8 9 18 23 58
Central Oklahoma UCO 16 22 11 19 68

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos hold off Northwest Missouri, win fifth straight

EDMOND - Central Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead, led by as many as 25, and withstood a late rally to hold off Northwest Missouri 68-58 on Wednesday night in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association opener at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos (5-0, 1-0) got a huge first half boost from leading scorer Melinda Murillo, who scored 15 in the first half on her way to a game-high 24. It's the fourth time in five games that Murillo has scored at least 20 points.

Marley Anderson also gave the Bronchos an early boost. The senior guard had nine first-quarter points helping the Bronchos double-up Northwest Missouri 18-6 after one quarter.

Northwest Missouri made things interesting late. UCO held its biggest lead of the game - 25 - with 7:47 to play in the third, and held a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter. But the Bearcats wouldn't go away, and whittled the lead down to six with less than a minute to play before UCO put away the win.

"I think the layoff had an effect on us," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said of the Bronchos 13-day break since their last game.

"The girls got a little tired in the second half," Hardaker said. "We've still got plenty of improving to do."

Murillo's 24 points helped her improve her season average to 18.8 per game. She hit 10 of 18 shots on Wednesday night and added two assists and two steals.

Anderson finished with 14 and was the only other Broncho in double figures. Blake Blessington and Olivia Mason each had eight points. Jesheon Cooper finished with six points and a game-high nine rebounds. Mason also hit the boards big for the Bronchos and finished with eight rebounds.

UCO is back in action on Saturday, with another MIAA matchup against Northeastern State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.

 
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