Women's Basketball 1/2/2018 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 16 Central Hosts Lincoln Thursday

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team brings a seven-game winning streak into the new year and will put that on the line Thursday evening as the 16th-ranked Bronchos return to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play against Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos are 12-1 on the season and 3-1 in MIAA competition. UCO's 9-0 mark in non-conference play this season made it three-straight seasons of unbeaten play outside of the MIAA. The Bronchos were 6-0 in 2015-16, 10-0 last season, and have won a total of 29 consecutive non-MIAA games in the regular season.

But now it's only MIAA games for the Bronchos. UCO last season made a postseason run to the MIAA Championship. The Bronchos in 2017-18 have their sights set on not only returning to the league's championship in Kansas City in March, but also winning its first title since joining the league in 2012.

"We were aiming to get a first-round bye last season and we missed out on that by losing a tiebreaker," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "I think there's no reason for us to not climb a little higher this year. We've had some pretty good games and we're coming into conference on a bit of a run, but we haven't really put it all together yet. I think we have a really good team and I'm ready to see how they play now that conference is here."

Melinda Murillo leads the Bronchos into conference play. The senior guard is coming off her second 30+ point game of the season last week in a rout of East Central. Murillo scored 32 points on 11 of 16 shooting, knocking down 5 of 6 threes and all five free-throws.

Murillo averages a team-high 16.1 points per game this season. She also has the team-high for minutes played (30.5 per game), made field goals (68), made 3-pointers (27), made free-throws (46), assists (44), and steals (22).

Jesheon Cooper, who like Murillo earned All-MIAA honors a season ago, has also been dominant through one semester of play. Cooper is averaging a double-double, scoring 11.3 points per game and grabbing 11.5 rebounds per game. The senior post is also averaging 2.5 blocks per game. Her nine double-doubles this season is among the most by any player in Division II.

Blake Blessington is the third Broncho to average double figures this season, scoring 10.8 points per game. The junior guard is one of the more well-rounded players in the league, also averaging 4.9 rebounds per game and just under three assists per game.

Blessington is second on the team in a lot of statistical categories – minutes (28.4 per game), 3-pointers (18), free-throws (38), assists (34), and blocks (eight).

The Bronchos hope to get a bump in production from a few players who have rotated as the fourth starter for the Bronchos. Megan Hartness and Shatoya Bryson have each started four games, while Jo'Nah Johnson has started the last two in another scoring guard role.

Hardaker looks to each of them to score while teams hone in on Murillo and Cooper. Bryson's 5.5 points per game leads the pack, with Johnson's 5.4 the second-most of the group. Hartness is averaging 4.8 per game. Hardaker has said if the three of them can each bump up their scoring by a few points per game, Central will become a much better basketball team.

Lincoln enters conference play with a 3-9 overall record. The Blue Tigers of Jefferson City, Mo. are 0-4 in the MIAA and are currently on a five-game losing streak.

LU is led by Citlali Lopez. The senior guard averages 13.6 points per game this season. She shoots 42 percent from the floor overall, and has a team-high 34 3-pointers, knocking down 45.9 percent of her shots from behind the arc. Lopez also averages 4.6 rebounds per game.

Lajanea Kimbrough and Faith Brintle each average 8.7 points per game, and Bre Coleman averages 8.6 points per game.

Lincoln as a team scores 57 per contest, a minus-11 differential to its 68 points allowed per game.

Central Oklahoma, which beat Lincoln 66-64 last season in the only meeting between the schools, owns a 6-2 all-time mark in the series. Hardaker is 6-0 against Lincoln in his career.

The Bronchos are home all week. UCO hosts Lincoln Thursday evening and will then turn its focus to a key-MIAA matchup with Lindenwood on Saturday. The Bronchos narrowly edged Lindenwood in the MIAA Tournament semifinals last March.

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Players Mentioned

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

#21 Shatoya Bryson: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

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

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

#23 Jo'Nah Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#32 Megan Hartness: G; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

#21 Shatoya Bryson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

#23 Jo'Nah Johnson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#32 Megan Hartness
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G