No. 9 UCO plays at Fort Hays State Saturday

2/10/2017 2:02:00 PM | By: Chris Brannick

Hayley Bryan

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HAYS, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team takes on Fort Hays State at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup.

The Bronchos (20-3, 11-3) look to snap out of a funk that has the ninth-ranked team in the country on a two-game losing streak. Offensive production has dipped slightly for UCO, which has resulted in the Bronchos losing on the final possession of each of the last two games.

Fort Hays (17-6, 8-6) is currently sixth in the MIAA. And like UCO, Hays boasts a stingy defense. The Tigers are fourth in the conference in opponent's field goal percentage at .370. UCO's .341 is a top 10 mark in the country.

Hays allows 58.8 points per game, which is fifth in the league. UCO is fourth in opposing points per game – at 58.7 points allowed per contest.

UCO fell short Thursday night in a game that totaled 107 points. The way Hays plays, Saturday could be the same.

Melinda Murillo is also looking to bounce back for the Bronchos. The junior guard leads Central in scoring with 15 points per game. She has also played the most minutes, 716, of any Broncho.

But Murillo had a season-low six points Thursday against Kearney. Murillo had scored double-digits in nine consecutive games.

Jesheon Cooper is in a similar position. Cooper scored four points against Southwest Baptist last Saturday, and five against Kearney on Thursday. The 6-foot-5 junior is averaging 11 points per game this season.

Hays is led by Jill Faxon. She is only FHSU player to average double figures in scoring. The senior averages 11.9 points per game and is third on the team in rebounds, averaging five per game.

Kacie Kennett, Tatyana Legette and Nicola Kacperska each average nine points per game for Hays. Legette is the team's leading rebounder with a 7.2 per game average. Emma Stroyan is second on the team in rebounds, averaging 5.7 per contest, and also leads the team with 48 blocked shots.

Fort Hays State leads the all-time series with the Bronchos 7-2, winning all five games played in Hays.

UCO will play a familiar schedule next week. The Bronchos host Kearney on Thursday, Feb. 16 and Fort Hays State on Saturday, Feb. 18, before wrapping up the regular season on the road against Washburn and Emporia State in two weeks.

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