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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Team
71
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO
51
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN NHAVEN-W
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
71
Final
51
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN NHAVEN-W
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 12 20 23 16 71
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN NHAVEN-W 9 14 9 19 51

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Outpace New Haven

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The University of Central Oklahoma beat New Haven (Conn.) 71-51 Friday afternoon at the Division II Puerto Rico Clasico.

"Today was another really good team effort," UCO head basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "We were all really strong on defense and that helped our transition game. And we shot the ball a lot better today and that always helps."

Micayla Haynes led the way for the Bronchos with 19 points. The junior point guard knocked down 8 of 11 shots on the day including 3-for-6 from behind the arc.

Central Oklahoma also got a double-digit performance from senior Blake Blessington, who scored 14 on the day. Blessington had a team-high four 3-pointers. Central hit 12 of 27 shots from long range Friday.

The Bronchos got off to a hot start on offense for the second time in as many days. Blessington stole the ball on defense and took it all the way for a layup for the game's first score. The senior from Harrah, Okla. would soon hit a pair of 3-pointers to make it a 10-2 start for the Bronchos. 

UCO's defense was just as aggressive to start the game, forcing four turnovers in the opening quarter. Central also didn't allow a basket for the first four-plus minutes.

New Haven made a run to cut the Broncho lead to 10-9, but a Megan Hartness steal and fastbreak layup gave UCO a 12-9 lead and that's how the first quarter ended.

The Bronchos began the second quarter in similar fashion, scoring the first six points to build an 18-9 lead. New Haven didn't score its first basket of the second frame for two and half minutes as the Broncho defense continued to apply the pressure.

A 3-point barrage followed for the Bronchos, as Shatoya Bryson knocked down a pair from deep and Brooke Rayner also dropped in a long range bucket. New Haven called a timeout to try and halt the Broncho stampede with Central leading 27-13 with just over four minutes to play in the first half.

UCO closed out the half bending a little, but not breaking. New Haven made another late quarter run to get with 10, as Central led 32-23 at the half.

Central Oklahoma shot an even 50 percent from the floor in the first half. The Bronchos made 13 of 26 shots from the floor, including a 5-for-13 half from 3-point land. The UCO defense held New Haven to 32 percent overall on 9-for-28 shooting. NHU was 1-for-7 from behind the arc.

The quick start theme continued in the third quarter. New Haven called a timeout after an early 7-0 run to start the quarter by the Bronchos. That was before a pair of Blessington 3-pointers made it 47-27.

Haynes knocked down a pair of 3-pointers of her own, both from the corner, to give Central a big 53-29 lead. The Bronchos led 55-32 after three quarters.

The Bronchos cruised through the fourth quarter on their way to winning their sixth-straight game to open the season. 

Bryson finished with eight points, six assists and two steals. Hartness added seven off the bench to go with four rebounds. McKenna Pulley scored six off the bench and had five rebounds. Lauren Chancellor also scored six off the bench. 

Ireon Smith scored five points, pulled down six rebounds, and blocked two shots. Madison Lee knocked down one 3-pointer and had five rebounds and four assists. Rayner added three points and three steals as well.

Central Oklahoma will play one more game in the Puerto Rico Clasico, against local Puerto Rico Bayamon on Saturday at 7 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time).
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