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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jesheon Cooper
59
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 20-5, 11-5
53
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB 19-5, 11-5
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
20-5, 11-5
59
Final
53
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB
19-5, 11-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 14 12 11 22 59
Nebraska-Kearney UNKWBB 21 8 13 11 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Rally To Beat UNK, Again

KEARNEY, Neb. – The University of Central Oklahoma pulled off a fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victory over Nebraska-Kearney for the second time in seven days to move into third-place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association standings with just three games to play in the regular season. UCO won 59-53 Thursday.
 
The Bronchos took the lead for the first time in the game Thursday with 2:30 minutes to play in the third quarter. It lasted 24 seconds. UCO spent virtually the entire game clawing at the Loper lead.
 
In the fourth quarter, Blake Blessington tied the game 48-48 with an and-1 layup with 4:30 minutes play. Megan Hartness gave UCO its second lead of the game two possessions later with a layup of her own. The Bronchos then took control.
 
Jesheon Cooper gave UCO a six-point lead with under a minute to play. Kearney made a late 3-pointer and another lay-up to keep it close, but the Bronchos closed out the key, conference road win.
 
"I am really proud of the way this team fought tonight," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "When you play on the road against a tough team, in a tough environment, it's not really that hard to roll over and take a loss. But they didn't do that today. They fought through it, and were able to get a good win."
 
UCO trailed 21-14 after one, by three at halftime and by five after three quarters. But the Bronchos outscored UNK 22-11 in the final frame to get the win.
 
Cooper's 12-point, 15-rebound performance led the way for Central. The senior center added three blocks. Blessington, and senior guard Melinda Murillo both had 11 points.
 
Hartness added eight points off the bench. Madison Lee scored seven points, had five rebounds, and one steal. Ireon Smith also had six off the bench, all in the first half. Jo'Nah Johnson and Shatoya Bryson each scored two.
 
UCO picked up the road win Thursday at Kearney despite a season-low one made 3-pointer. The Bronchos were just 1-for-13 from behind the arc (.077 percent) in the game. It didn't extend a near 10-year streak of games with at least one make though.
 
Central wasn't too much better inside the arc. The Bronchos were just 19-for-61 overall on Thursday, 31.1 percent. UCO got a big boost from a 20-for-25 night from the free-throw line. Murillo was 7 of 8 and Blessington 6 of 7 from the stripe to lead the way.
 
Central Oklahoma improved to 20-5 with the win and 11-5 in league play. Kearney dropped to 19-5 overall and 11-5 in league play. The teams are knotted with three games to play, but the Bronchos beat Kearney twice to earn the tiebreaker.
 
UCO is also tied at 11-5 with Fort Hays State. The Bronchos beat the Tigers last Saturday in Edmond. UCO plays at Hays this Saturday. Kearney and Hays will also play each other next week.
 
Central closes out the regular season next week with two home dates against Washburn (Thursday, Feb. 22) and Emporia State (Saturday, Feb. 24).
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