Women's Basketball 12/17/2018 11:18:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 23 UCO Meets SNU In Bethany

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BETHANY, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team makes a short road trip Tuesday to take on Southern Nazarene in non-conference action at the Sawyer Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tuesday's matchup will be the 10th game away from home for Central Oklahoma in 11 games to start the season. UCO is 9-1 and ranked 23rd in the country. The Bronchos are 17-9 all-time against Southern Nazarene and 12th-year UCO head women's coach Guy Hardaker is 6-0.

Central Oklahoma is led by a quadrant of players averaging double figures this season. Micayla Haynes (12.1), Ireon Smith (11.1), Shatoya Bryson (11), and Blake Blessington (10.1) are all leading the charge for the Bronchos on offense. UCO also has five players averaging at least five points per game.

The Bronchos as a team are averaging 69.9 points per game this season. UCO shoots 43 percent from the floor overall, 35.7 percent from 3-point land, and is hitting 64.6 percent of its free-throws.

Haynes has a team-high 17 made 3-pointers this season and is shooting 38.6 percent from behind the arc. The junior guard is also shooting 45.9 percent from the field overall and is one of six Bronchos averaging at least one steal per game.

Smith, also a junior, has a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game and is also the team leader in blocks with 13. Smith has 14 steals this season. Offensively, the Midwest City, Okla. native shoots 55.2 percent from the field and has hit seven 3-pointers this season on 15 attempts after not taking one shot from behind the arc in her first two combined seasons.

Bryson, a junior like Haynes and Smith, has been crucial in jump-starting the offense for the Bronchos this season. The point guard averages 11 points per game to go with 3.9 assists per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and a team-high 2.2 steals per game. Bryson led UCO in scoring the last time out, going for 22 points in a road win at Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Blessington also leads the team in more than one way. The senior forward plays more minutes per game (29.9) than any other Broncho. She is second on the team with 16 made 3-pointers and hits 44.4 percent of her shots from behind the arc. Blessington is also second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma allows just 57 points per game, which ranks 35th in the nation. The Bronchos' 107 steals this season is ranked 31st in the country and is tops in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Southern Nazarene is 2-7 this season and is averaging offensively what the Bronchos are allowing – 57 points per game. The Crimson Storm are led by Adrienne Berry, who scores 10.8 points per game. Abby Niehues averages 8.9 points per game and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game. Berry's four rebounds per game is second on the team.

Central Oklahoma will play one more non-conference road game following Christmas Break. The Bronchos visit East Central in Ada, Okla. on Sunday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. before returning to MIAA competition in the new year.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#24 Ireon Smith: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#34 Micayla Haynes: G; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

#24 Ireon Smith
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#34 Micayla Haynes
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G