Women's Basketball 12/29/2017 11:45:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 16 Central Oklahoma hosts East Central

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is slated to host East Central on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House in the final non-conference game of the season for the 16th-ranked Bronchos.

UCO is 11-1 on the season and took a six-game win streak into its 11-day holiday break. The Bronchos haven't played since beating Southern Nazarene by 16 points on Dec. 19.

"It's always tricky to get the team ready to play following not just a big break like we had, but get them ready after the holidays," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "You have just a little bit of time to be away, there's no school, there's no practice, it takes a little bit to get back into the swing of things.

"So, these games can be tricky," Hardaker continued. "But they're (East Central) dealing with the same thing, and they're playing on the road. We're not going to let that be an excuse. We're looking to head into conference play in January on a high note and that means taking care of business on Saturday."

East Central brings a 4-3 record to Edmond Saturday. The Tigers, winners of three straight, are already 4-1 in conference play. Saturday will be ECU's third and final game outside of the Great American Conference.

Devon Branch leads the Tigers into Saturday's matinee. The senior guard is averaging 17 points per game, as well as a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game. Branch leads ECU in virtually all statistical categories, including minutes (30.4/game), field goals made (36-96), 3-pointers made (21-59), free throws made (26-33), and blocks (four).

Lakin Preisner, a 5-foot-9 guard, is second on the team with a 12.1 points per game mark. The junior also averages 5.4 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 14 made 3-pointers this season.

East Central averages as a team 62.7 points per game. The Tigers shoot 34 percent from the field, 32 percent from behind the arc, and make on average, 13 free-throws per game.

UCO, averaging 66.9 points per game and outscoring its opponents by 10.1 per game during its six-game win streak, looks to win its 14th consecutive game against East Central. The Bronchos are 28-20 all-time against ECU, Hardaker is 12-0.

Central has been led by Jesheon Cooper, Melinda Murillo, and Blake Blessington this season.

Cooper averages a double-double for the year, 11.3 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. The senior also averages 2.6 blocks per game. She's had at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in 9 of 12 games this season, which ranks her third in the country for most double-doubles.

In UCO's final week of play before the break, Cooper averaged 11.5 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks per game.

Murillo averaged 14.8 points per game during the fall semester. The senior guard had the team-high for minutes played (30.9/game), as well as made 3-pointers (22-64) and free-throws (41-48).

Blessington's 10.8 points per game gives the Bronchos three players averaging double figures scoring. The junior guard, who has played in more games at Central than any other player on the roster, is also among the national leaders in free-throw percentage. Blessington's 38-of-41 mark, 92.7 percent, is 11th in the country among all Division II players.

Central Oklahoma looks for its ninth non-conference win of the season Saturday. That would put the Bronchos 9-0 in such games. UCO has since Nov. 22, 2014, won 28 straight non-conference games in the regular season.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#42 Jesheon Cooper: F; 6' 5"; Senior

#22 Melinda Murillo: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#42 Jesheon Cooper
: 6' 5"; Senior
: F

#22 Melinda Murillo
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo