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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Melinda Murillo
Melinda Murillo
50
NW Missouri NWWBB 9-18
67
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 23-6
NW Missouri NWWBB
9-18
50
Final
67
Central Oklahoma UCO
23-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
NW Missouri NWWBB 11 14 7 18 50
Central Oklahoma UCO 13 16 21 17 67

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos open MIAA Tournament with win over Northwest Missouri

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma beat Northwest Missouri 67-50 Tuesday night in the first round of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association postseason tournament.
 
The fifth-seeded Bronchos (23-6) advance to Kansas City for the quarterfinals and will play fourth-seeded Missouri Western on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
 
Melinda Murillo, who was announced as UCO's first First-Team All-MIAA selection earlier Tuesday, scored a game-high 17 points. Jesheon Cooper chipped in 16 points on 8 of 11 shooting and had five rebounds and one blocked shot.
 
Marley Anderson added 15 for the Bronchos and Olivia Mason put up 13.
 
"That was a good win for us," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "Northwest made us change a few things, but the girls adapted and were able to get it done. That's how you want to start the postseason."
 
The Bronchos were stuck in a first quarter battle with 12th-seeded Northwest Missouri. The Bronchos came out slow on offense shooting just 5 of 15 in the opening quarter. But UCO's defense kept Northwest at bay and the Bronchos held a slight 13-11 advantage after one quarter.
 
UCO hit one 3-pointer in the first quarter and it came at a good time. Murillo sank her only make from deep with 3:41 to go cut Northwest Missouri's lead to 9-7. Murillo then got to the line on the next possession and made two of her team-high six free throws to tie the game up.
 
Mason got to the line moments later, put UCO ahead 11-9 with two of her three free throws on the night, and the Bronchos never trailed again.
 
Murillo and Mason combined to go 9-for-9 from the free throw line for all of the Bronchos attempts on the day.
 
Northwest stayed close in the second despite never getting the lead back. UCO led 29-25 at halftime.
 
The third quarter began with UCO's strongest performance of the night.
 
The Bronchos, sparked by a sweltering defense, won the third quarter 21-7 to put the game away. UCO opened the quarter on a 12-0 run and didn't allow a field goal for the first five minutes of the third quarter.
 
Northwest Missouri only hit 3 of 14 in the third quarter.
 
In the fourth, Hardaker was able to empty his bench as the Bronchos pulled ahead by 25 points with 4:37 to go.
 
Blake Blessington was the only starter not to score double figures for UCO Tuesday night. Blessington didn't score at all, but collected eight rebounds, one block, and one steal on the night.
 
Shatoya Bryson, Megan Womack, and Ireon Smith each scored two points off the bench for the Bronchos. Hayley Bryan played 15 reserve minutes for the Bronchos, making her 100th career appearance in a UCO uniform.
 
The Bronchos play Missouri Western Friday night in Kansas City. UCO lost to Western in Edmond on New Year's Eve. The Bronchos will look to avenge that loss and make it past the MIAA quarterfinals for the first time in four trips to the conference tournament.
 
 
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