Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Blake Blessington
Blake Blessington
59
Central Oklahoma UCO 5-1, 0-1 MIAA
71
Winner Missouri Western MWSU 6-1, 1-0 MIAA
Central Oklahoma UCO
5-1, 0-1 MIAA
59
Final
71
Missouri Western MWSU
6-1, 1-0 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 10 23 8 18 59
Missouri Western MWSU 17 8 21 25 71

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos drop MIAA opener

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team dropped its first game of the 2017-18 season with a 71-59 loss to Missouri Western in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association opener Thursday night.
 
The Bronchos are 5-1 on the season after one month. UCO showed flashes of the stifling defense that led to its 5-0 start, but couldn't keep Missouri Western down for four quarters Thursday.
 
"Teams are bound to make more shots even when you play good defense," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "We still had a chance to win this game, but we couldn't get it done on the offensive side of the ball. We've got some things we need to work out because we're not playing up to our potential yet. Hats off to Missouri Western too, because they're a really good team."
 
UCO came out of the gates a little slow. The Bronchos found themselves in a 6-0 deficit after just a couple of minutes of play. By the end of the first quarter, Missouri Western built a 17-10 lead.
 
But the Bronchos responded. UCO had its best quarter in the second, catching Western at 17-17, then taking a 20-17 lead on a Blake Blessington 3-pointer with 7:42 to play in the quarter. After a quick back-and-forth, Central cruised to a dominant frame, topping Western 23-8 in the quarter to build a 33-25 halftime lead.
 
Unfortunately for Central Thursday, the second quarter was the only quarter the Bronchos exerted any sign of overpowering Western.
 
UCO managed just eight points in the third, allowing Western to tie the game 39-39 with just over three minutes to play. Missouri Western would re-take the lead on a pair of free throws moments later, and never looked back. Western outscored the Bronchos 21-8 in the third. UCO shot just 3 of 13 in the quarter.
 
The Bronchos ended the night 22 of 60 from the floor, and 6 of 17 from behind the arc. Central did do well to go 9 of 11 from the free-throw line Thursday, but 20 turnovers were too much to overcome and the Bronchos will look to move on quick this weekend from its first defeat of the new season.
 
Blessington led the way for the Bronchos in St. Joes. The junior guard tied a career-high with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting. She hit 4 of 6 threes and was a perfect 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Blessington added four assists and a pair of rebounds before fouling out as the Bronchos tried to stay alive in the final minutes.
 
Jesheon Cooper notched her fifth double-double in six games this season. The senior center had 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting and added 14 rebounds. She entered the game averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds. Cooper also had one block.
 
Melinda Murillo, UCO's leading scorer this season, was limited to eight points on 3 of 9 shooting. Murillo knocked in a pair of 3-pointers, but also had a team-high four turnovers. Blessington and Murillo's six combined threes were all the Bronchos got from deep Thursday.
 
Central is back on the court Saturday, with a chance to get back on track against Northwest Missouri at 1:30 p.m. in Maryville.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors