Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Olivia Mason
Olivia Mason
72
Fort Hays State FHSU 19-7, 10-7 MIAA
76
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 21-5, 12-5 MIAA
Fort Hays State FHSU
19-7, 10-7 MIAA
72
Final
76
Central Oklahoma UCO
21-5, 12-5 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fort Hays State FHSU 25 15 25 7 72
Central Oklahoma UCO 17 18 22 19 76

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

No. 18 Bronchos surge past Fort Hays State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma beat Fort Hays State 76-72 in a crucial MIAA tilt Saturday afternoon in Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos (21-5, 12-5) didn't lead the entire first half, held the lead for less than one minute in the third, but after taking the lead with 7:55 to go in the fourth, UCO held on the rest of the way for the win. The Bronchos snapped a four-game losing streak with Saturday's win and moved into sole possession of fourth-place in the MIAA standings.

Olivia Mason led the Bronchos with 16 points. That total put the senior from Fairview with 999 career points, 12th all-time in UCO history. Mason was 4 of 7 on 3-pointers. Her four makes gives her 171 made 3-pointers in her career, which tied April Taylor's mark for second-most in school history.

Mason has been busy in the Central record book all season. She began the year in sixth-place for career rebounds. Saturday, Mason moved up to fourth with 682 career rebounds.

Melinda Murillo also scored 16 for UCO, added a season-high nine assists, and chipped in four rebounds and a steal. Marley Anderson scored 15 and Jesheon Cooper added 13 points, seven rebounds, and one blocked shot.

Fort Hays State jumped out to an early lead Saturday, making its first two 3-pointers. UCO didn't make a shot for the first two minutes of the game.

The first quarter started out for the Bronchos how the past four games have been. UCO shot 7 of 17 from the floor in the opening frame and trailed 25-17. Hays didn't make anything easy on the Bronchos, hitting over 50 percent of its shots in the first, including 4 of 8 from behind the arc.

The Bronchos kept chipping away at it though. UCO won the second quarter 18-15, despite still struggling on offense shooting 4 of 13 in the quarter.

UCO used both its high-powered defense with a hot hand on offense to take over in the third quarter.

The Bronchos made their first three baskets to take their first lead of the game. Cooper made a layup, Murillo hit a jump shot, then a 3-pointer, to make it 42-40 Central Oklahoma.

Fort Hays State quickly responded and regained the lead, and eventually led by 11 with 20 seconds to go in the third before Mason hit another 3-pointer to make it 65-57 after three.

The Bronchos saved its best effort for the fourth quarter. With one of the best defenses in the country, UCO put on one of its best performances of the season in the fourth Saturday.

UCO forced Fort Hays to miss its first nine shots it took in the fourth and also forced two turnvers. Fort Hays State missed two free throws as well. The drought lasted 6:16.

Meanwhile, the Bronchos scored 13 in a row to go up 70-65.

UCO kept at least a two-point lead the rest of the way. Anderson sank two free throws with eight seconds left to make it 76-72.

The Bronchos are in fourth place in the MIAA standings with two games to play. Missouri Western lost to Pittsburg State on Saturday to drop to fifth. The top-four teams in the conference receive a first-round bye in the MIAA Tournament, which begins in two weeks.

UCO plays at Washburn on Thursday, Feb. 23 and at Emporia State on Saturday, Feb. 25.
 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors