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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Melinda Murillo
Melinda Murillo
55
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 7-1 (2-1 MIAA)
46
Northeastern State NSU 4-4 (1-2 MIAA)
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
7-1 (2-1 MIAA)
55
Final
46
Northeastern State NSU
4-4 (1-2 MIAA)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 9 9 19 18 55
Northeastern State NSU 4 10 13 19 46

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Pull Past Northeastern State

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team used a big second half to pull away from Northeastern State 55-46 Tuesday night at the Tahlequah Event Center in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.
 
Melinda Murillo led the Bronchos with 17 points on the night. The senior guard had just three points at halftime and was 1 of 6 from the field.
 
"We were playing good in the first half, we just couldn't make a shot," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "In the third quarter, we started to see the ball go through the hoop and that always changes everything for our shooters."
 
The Bronchos shot 8 of 16 as a team in the third quarter after making just 8 of 31 shots in the first half.
 
Central got off to a strong start in the first quarter. Jesheon Cooper scored just 10 seconds into the game on an easy layup, then blocked a shot before UCO forced a 30-second shot clock violation.
 
The Bronchos didn't wow on offense in the first quarter, but Central's defense carried the weight.
 
Northeastern missed its first 13 shots. UCO held the Riverhawks scoreless for the first 7:20 of the game. NSU did get two quick buckets in the final 40 seconds and the Bronchos held a 9-4 lead after the first quarter.
 
UCO still struggled offensively in the second quarter, as Northeastern settled in. The Bronchos scored just nine points in the quarter again and ended the first half 8 of 31 from the floor and 2 of 17 on 3-pointers. The Bronchos led 18-14 at the half.
 
The Bronchos responded in a big way in the third. Central Oklahoma scored more points (12) in the first 4:24 of the third quarter than it did in either of each of the entire first two quarters (9).
 
UCO used that to turn a 4-point halftime lead into a 37-27 lead after three quarters.
 
Northeastern State turned it on too in the second half. The Riverhawks, who never led in game, pulled to within one point with five minutes to play, 44-43. But from there, with one NSU free throw in the mix, Megan Hartness hit a 3-pointer, Murillo hit a 3-pointer, Jesheon Cooper hit an open jumper, and a Murillo jumper made it 53-44 as UCO closed the deal on the win.
 
Murillo finished with 17 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals. Cooper notched yet another double-double on the season, her sixth in eight games, with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance. The senior center added four blocks to the dominant Broncho defensive performance.
 
Hartness and Blake Blessington each scored seven, while Jo'Nah Johnson added five off the bench. The Bronchos finished the game shooting 35 percent from the floor, escaping with yet another win anchored by a strong defensive effort.
 
NSU shot 33 percent on the night, and one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the league only managed six from deep on 17 attempts.
 
Central Oklahoma is happy to head home following Tuesday night's game. The Bronchos have yet to play a home game this season. That changes Thursday, when Central hosts Southwest Baptist at 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House.
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