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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jo'Nah Johnson
39
Lincoln LU 3-10, 0-5 MIAA
81
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 13-1, 4-1 MIAA
Lincoln LU
3-10, 0-5 MIAA
39
Final
81
Central Oklahoma UCO
13-1, 4-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Lincoln LU 12 12 8 7 39
Central Oklahoma UCO 15 25 30 11 81

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

No. 16 UCO Cruises Past Lincoln

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team pushed its winning streak to eight games Thursday evening with an 81-39 win over Lincoln in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action at Hamilton Field House.
 
The Bronchos improved to 13-1 on the season, and 4-1 in league play, after winning its second straight game by more than 40 points.
 
"This game was a lot like our win last week, where we just shot the ball really well and got going," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "Now we didn't start very well at all tonight, but the team did a good job of continuing to find the open teammate and keep shooting. We did some things really well tonight. I'm proud of the girls for that."
 
Jo'Nah Johnson led the Bronchos, with the freshman scoring a season-high 18 points on 7 of 14 shooting. The Edmond native sank four 3-pointers and spurred a lot of offense with her defense, coming away with five steals.
 
"That's what she did in high school that everybody loved," Hardaker said. "She has the ability to be a big-time threat with the ball in her hands. She can pass well, create, and tonight we saw a little glimpse of what I hope becomes a regular thing for her. I'm really happy for her. Once you see the ball going in a little more, a lot can change for a player like that."
 
Johnson, who last spring was a McDonald's All-American nominee and one of the best players in the state of Oklahoma, had hit double figures twice this year. She scored 11 against Arkansas-Fort Smith, and 12 against Southern Nazarene. She's moved into a starting role and is beginning to flourish in finding her spots and feeding off of the veterans around her.
 
Melinda Murillo (16 points, six assists, five rebounds) is the leader of the team and can find anyone on the floor. Johnson is becoming a key beneficiary of Murillo's All-MIAA type of play.
 
Blake Blessington is as well. The junior, with more games under her belt than any other player on the roster, scored 15 Thursday night on a stellar 5 of 8 shooting night that included three 3-pointers. Blessington also sank a pair of free-throws on what might have been one of her more aggressive offensive outings of the season.
 
Jesheon Cooper scored eight points, also pulled down six rebounds, and had a blocked shot. Megan Hartness scored 11, Lauren Chancellor five, Taylor O'Dell four, and Ireon Smith two, all off the bench. Madison Lee added two in a start.
 
Lincoln, which dropped to 0-5 in the MIAA after Thursday's loss, held its only lead of the game at 19-18 with 7:54 to play in the second quarter. Cooper hit a jumper 18 seconds later, and the Bronchos never trailed again.
 
UCO led by just three after one, but a Johnson 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer put the Bronchos up 40-24. Johnson sank another three on the first possession of the second half, and not long after, the Bronchos led by 30. The lead was 40 early into the fourth quarter as Hardaker doled out some valuable minutes to his reserves. Central led by as many as 43 on three different occasions before settling into the 42-point win. The Bronchos beat East Central by 48 points this past Saturday.
 
Hardaker won't spend much time enjoying this one though. The Bronchos Lindenwood Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House. Lindenwood (9-4, 2-3 MIAA) has been a tough matchup for the Bronchos in recent memory. UCO also ousted the Lions from the MIAA Tournament semifinals last season.
 
 
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