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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Melinda Murillo
55
Northeastern State NSU 8-8, 4-5 MIAA
81
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 16-2, 7-2 MIAA
Northeastern State NSU
8-8, 4-5 MIAA
55
Final
81
Central Oklahoma UCO
16-2, 7-2 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northeastern State NSU 9 11 13 22 55
Central Oklahoma UCO 20 19 23 19 81

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

No. 19 UCO Whips Northeastern State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team cruised to an 81-55 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup at Hamilton Field House.
 
UCO gave up the game's first points, but soon led 8-2. After Northeastern State brought it to 10-9 with a free throw with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter, the Bronchos went on a 10-0 run to end the opening frame. UCO led for 37:33 Saturday, improving to 16-2 on the season, and 7-2 in league play.
 
"We played really well on defense today," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "They have some really good shooters and I thought that could give us some trouble, but the girls did a great job today. Madison Lee was really good on their best player. She really shut her down, and that was a big difference early on."
 
Northeastern State's Cailyn Long came into the game as the team's best offensive threat. Lee kept her in check early and often. Long could only get two shots off in the first half. She finished with five points on 2 of 4 shooting. Her lone three came when Lee was on the bench in the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout.
 
UCO's defense came into the game seventh in the country in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to 34.1 percent from the floor. Saturday, Lee and the Bronchos held NSU to 32.2 percent on 19 of 59 shooting. Northeastern hit just 29 percent of its threes, and the Bronchos forced 18 turnovers, which turned into 22 points on the other end of the floor.  
 
Melinda Murillo led UCO's offensive charge. The senior point guard scored 22 points to equal her jersey number, had four rebounds, and added five assists and a steal. Jo'Nah Johnson added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Megan Hartness scored 10 points off the bench for the Bronchos and was the only other to score double figures.
 
UCO took its 11-point halftime lead to 14 with the first points of the second quarter when Murillo sank a 3-pointer to make it 23-9. The Bronchos soon led 37-17 when Shatoya Bryson nailed a 3-pointer of her own with just over two minutes to play in the first half. UCO took a 39-19 lead into halftime.
 
Central came out firing in the third quarter to put the game out of reach for sure.
 
Johnson opened the half with a jumper, Murillo hit a three, which was followed by three more from deep from Johnson, Blessington, and Johnson again. UCO suddenly by 29 points. That would be its largest lead of the game.
 
The Bronchos led by 29 again when Sadie Mason knocked down a jumper with 37 seconds to play in the third quarter. Central took that 62-33 lead into the final frame.
 
With the win, Central Oklahoma sweeps the season series from Northeastern State for the second year in a row. The Bronchos have won four-straight in the series.
 
Saturday's game was the first of three straight at home for the Bronchos. UCO hosts Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next Thursday and Saturday respectively.
 
 
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