Women's Basketball 1/19/2018 9:40:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 19 UCO hosts rival Northeastern State

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team hosts Northeastern State in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association showdown Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

"Northeastern State is always a tough matchup," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "It doesn't matter if they're a little down or not, this game just tends to be played a lot closer. Hopefully us being at home will give us a little advantage and we can play our game a little better on Saturday."

UCO beat Northeastern State in Tahlequah in December, 55-46. The Bronchos are 25-37 all-time against the Riverhawks, Hardaker is 12-15, and the Bronchos have a three-game win streak in the rivalry. The 63rd meeting on Saturday is the second most of any opponent for Central Oklahoma.

The Bronchos have for most of this season had three players average at least 10 points per game. Melinda Murillo (16.2), Blake Blessington (10.8), and Jesheon Cooper (10.5) have led the way for majority of UCO's season.

Murillo leads the team not only in points, but also in minutes played (30.1/game), field goals (90), 3-pointers (37), free throws (58), assists (63), and steals (26).

Murillo's marks are all some of the best in the conference. She ranks in the top 20 in both minutes played per game and steals per game. The senior points guard is in the top 10 in field goals made, 3-pointers made, free-throws made, and assists per game.

Blessington and Cooper keep up the pace.

Blessington, a junior from Harrah, Okla., not only leads the team with a 92.2 percent rate from the free-throw line, but she also leads the conference and is seventh nationally.

Cooper leads the league in blocked shots (48) and is 11th nationally. She is second in the league in rebounds per game (10.9) and is 14th nationally. Cooper is also second in the league with nine double-doubles this season, which ranks 12th nationally.

The Bronchos have won both with torrid shooting performances and stifling defensive performances. The defense has been the bread and butter.

UCO ranks third in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 56.9 points per game, and is best in the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to shoot just 34.1 percent from the floor.

Northeastern State is led by a trio of double-digit scorers as well. Cailyn Long leads the way with 12.5 points per game and is the team's best 3-point shooter, making 39-of-92 (42.4 percent) from behind the arc this season.

Cenia Hayes, a true freshman, is second on the team in scoring. She and Lauryn Blevins both average 10.4 points per game. Hayes is another threat from downtown, coming in second on the team with 28 3-pointers made. She does have the team-high at 43.1 percent.

Northeastern is without one true rebounding presence. Five players on the team average at least four rebounds per game, and three more pull down three rebounds per game. NSU is seventh in the league in rebounding at 38.9 per game. UCO by comparison is second in the league at 43 per game.

Saturday is the first and last game of the week for the Bronchos. UCO beat Washburn in Topeka, Kan. last Saturday. The Bronchos will be home for the next three. After hosting Northeastern this weekend, Central will also host MIAA foes Pittsburg State (Jan. 25) and Missouri Southern (Jan. 27).

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Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#42 Jesheon Cooper: F; 6' 5"; Senior

#22 Melinda Murillo: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#42 Jesheon Cooper
: 6' 5"; Senior
: F

#22 Melinda Murillo
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo