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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Olivia Mason
Olivia Mason
54
Central Oklahoma UCO 26-7
62
Winner Emporia State ESU 27-4
Central Oklahoma UCO
26-7
54
Final
62
Emporia State ESU
27-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 14 11 18 11 54
Emporia State ESU 13 11 19 19 62

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos fall in MIAA Championship

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma lost 62-54 to Emporia State in the MIAA Championship Sunday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.

It was the Bronchos first appearance in the tournament final. Emporia State won its fifth consecutive league title with the win.

"We're going to stay positive and keep our heads up," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "This team is still getting better and we're going to get better next week before the NCAA Tournament."

UCO's fate in the NCAAs is still to be determined, but the Bronchos have secured a spot in the tournament.

The Bronchos had the champs on the ropes for nearly the entire game Sunday. UCO led by one point after the first quarter and led by one after the second quarter, and the Bronchos led by as many as eight in the third quarter before Emporia tied the game at the end of the period.

UCO led by as many as four in the fourth, but when Emporia State took a lead with 3:59 to go, it never let up on its way to the win.

Melinda Murillo led the Bronchos with 16 points Sunday and earned spot on the MIAA All-Tournament team. The junior guard scored 61 points in four games and added three assists per game and 2.3 rebounds per game in the tournament.

Jesheon Cooper scored eight points, pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked three shots and also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. In four games for the junior center, Cooper scored 56 points, averaged 8.5 rebounds per game and blocked 13 shots, which is fourth-most in the tournament history.

Olivia Mason chipped in 12 points Sunday, hitting three 3-pointers and making 3 of 4 free throws. Mason added six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.

Blake Blessington also scored in double figures in the championship game. The sophomore guard scored 10 points including two 3-pointers. Megan Womack scored six off the bench for the Bronchos and Shatoya Bryson added two.

The NCAA selection show is scheduled for 9 p.m. on ncaa.com. The Bronchos will play in the Central Region, but everything else is still to be determined.
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