Women's Basketball 12/28/2018 8:47:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Tracks To Ada To Finish Non-Conference Schedule

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ADA, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team returns to the court Sunday after a short Christmas break as the 22nd-ranked Bronchos take on East Central at the Kerr Center.

Central Oklahoma is 10-1 on the season as it is set to play its final non-conference game of the 2018-19 campaign. East Central is 6-3 this season. The Bronchos beat the Tigers 59-55 on Nov. 10 in Tahlequah, Okla. as part of the MIAA/GAC Crossover Challenge.

"It'll be good to be back on the court again," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "We had a really good game with East Central in November and I expect Sunday to be the same."

Hardaker is 14-0 all-time against ECU. The Bronchos own a 30-20 advantage in the series.

Micayla Haynes leads UCO offensively through 11 games played this season. The junior guard averages 12.1 points per game. She has a team-high 19 made 3-pointers this season and shoots a steady 47.1 percent from the floor overall. Haynes also averages two assists and one steal per game.

Shatoya Bryson is second on the team with 10.9 points per game. She's one of three Bronchos to average 10 points per game through 11 games played. Bryson has knocked down 14 3-pointers this season and has a team-high 28 made free-throws. She averages a team-high 3.6 assists per game and also has the team-high with 22 steals.

Ireon Smith is another Broncho averaging 10 points per game. She puts up 10.8 per game. Smith is the leading rebounder for Central Oklahoma, grabbing 7.5 boards per game. She also has the team-high with 18 blocked shots and is one of six players on UCO's roster with at least 10 steals this season. Smith has swiped 15 steals through 11 games.

Blake Blessington averages 10.2 points per game. She is tied with Haynes with 19 made threes this season and is shooting a team-best 47.5 percent from behind the arc. Blessington, who plays a team-high 29.6 minutes per game, also averages 5.2 rebounds per game, just under three assists per game, and one steal per game.

East Central comes into Sunday's matchup averaging 66.6 points per game this season. The Tigers allow 58 points per game. ECU shoots as a team 41 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from behind the arc. East Central also shoots 80.5 percent from the free-throw line, making 15.6 shots from the charity stripe per game.

ECU is led by Lakin Preisner, who averages 15.2 points per game. Preisner is also the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 8.9 boards per game. Tia Williams also averages double figures, scoring 10.6 points per game. Those two have combined for 29 made 3-pointers on the season and lead the team in that category.

Central Oklahoma is done with its non-conference slate following Sunday's game. The Bronchos will host Missouri Western next Thursday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Northwest Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play.

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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