Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Shatoya Bryson
64
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 1-0, 0-0
53
Northwestern Okla. NWOSU 0-1, 0-0
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
1-0, 0-0
64
Final
53
Northwestern Okla. NWOSU
0-1, 0-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 6 17 19 22 64
Northwestern Okla. NWOSU 22 9 7 15 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Open 2018-19 Season With Win

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a 64-53 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State Friday in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Great American Conference Crossover Challenge at the Tahlequah Events Center at Northeastern State University.
 
"Well we came out in the first quarter about as bad as we possible could have, so to be 1-0 at the end of the day is pretty good thing," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "We just weren't really comfortable early. But the girls responded and in a big way to come back and get the win. They're building a little toughness and grit already in the first game and that's good. That'll be good down the road for sure."
 
Central Oklahoma found itself down 14-0 in the first quarter. It wasn't until McKenna Pulley made a layup with 4:19 to play in the opening frame that the Bronchos got on the scoreboard. UCO still found itself behind for most of the game. The Bronchos trailed 22-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Pulley earned a three-point play the hard way on the first basket. Megan Hartness, Shatoya Bryson and Lauren Chancellor each added another free-throw to get Central six first-quarter points.
 
UCO responded in a big way in the second quarter, outscoring the Rangers 17-9 to pull within single digits by halftime. A 19-7 third quarter gave Central the advantage it held throughout the remainder of the game.
 
Central started the third quarter on a 15-0 run to replicate the Northwestern start to the game. NWOSU finally got on the board in third with a 3-pointer after just under eight scoreless minutes.
 
UCO took the lead with five minutes to play in the third and only relinquished it once more in the second half. After a Hartness 3-pointer gave Central a 45-44 lead with nine minutes to play, the Bronchos never looked back. UCO led by as many as down the stretch before sealing the 11-point win in the season opener.
 
Bryson led the Bronchos in scoring Friday. Her 17 points tied a career-high and she was the only Broncho in double figures. She added 10 rebounds and eight assists, getting ever so close to what would have been the second triple-double in school history. Bryson also had four steals on the day.
 
Kaci Richardson added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench. Madison Lee scored eight points and was one of five Bronchos to hit a 3-pointer Friday.
 
Central shot 41.4 percent from the floor and drained seven from behind the arc. The Bronchos also got a boost with nine free-throws on the day.
 
UCO will play East Central in Tahlequah Saturday at noon, continuing the conference crossover event. Hardaker improved to 5-0 all-time against NWOSU. The 12th-year Broncho head ball coach is 13-0 all-time against East Central.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors