No. 20 UCO plays at Lincoln in MIAA action

1/4/2017 4:30:00 PM | By: Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma junior Megan Womack goes up for a layup against Oklahoma Christian in a game last month. The Bronchos play at Lincoln on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. [UCO Photo Services]

Jefferson City, Mo. – Central Oklahoma looks to rebound from its first loss of the season Thursday night against Lincoln as Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play rolls on.

You can watch the game here.

The Bronchos are 11-1 on the season, 3-1 in the MIAA, and ranked No. 20 in the country. But UCO lost to Missouri Western on New Year's Eve, ending a 12-game home win streak and the best start in school history. Might be a good thing?

"Losing stinks but it shows you how you can get better," Guy Hardaker said.

The 11th-year head coach suddenly has a team that isn't playing for streaks and records anymore, and can now return its focus solely to the task at hand. Thursday, that task is Lincoln.

Lincoln is 1-10 on the season and 0-4 in league play. The Blue Tigers score the fewest points of any team in the MIAA as well, putting up 63 per game.

Lincoln does have three players in the top-15 in the league in scoring though. Azaria Nave (16.1), Hunter Yoakum (15.5), and Erica Gibbons (13.0) lead the charge offensively for the Blue Tigers.

UCO is led by Melinda Murillo, who scores 17.2 points per game – fifth in the MIAA – and has hit a team-high 25 3-pointers.

Jesheon Cooper is averaging a double-double with 11.5 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. Cooper leads the MIAA in rebounds per game – she is the only player in the conference averaging more than 10 boards per contest.

Cooper also leads the league in blocked shots. She has 34 blocks in 12 games this season. Her 2.8 per game average is slightly ahead of Fort Hays State's Emma Stroyan, who is blocking 2.7 shots per game.

Cooper's 34 blocks are also the eighth-most in school history. She is on pace to shatter the record of 55 blocks in one season.

Thursday is the first of two, quick MIAA road games for the Bronchos. UCO plays at Lindenwood on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories