Women's Basketball 2/21/2018 11:08:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hosts Washburn

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is scheduled to host Washburn Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup.

Central Oklahoma has just two games left on the schedule for the 2017-18 season. The Bronchos are 20-6 on the season, and 11-6 in MIAA play. Washburn is 18-8 overall, and 10-7 in league play.

UCO beat Washburn in Topeka last month, 62-60. The Bronchos went up by four on a pair of free-throws from Blake Blessington with 1:30 to play. Washburn got within two with 40 seconds left, but missed the would-be game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left and the Bronchos got the victory.

The defense that led Central to victory in Topeka, is the key reason the Bronchos have 20 wins for the second season in a row. UCO has the No. 1 field goal percentage defense in the MIAA, holding opponents to shoot just 34.9 percent on average this season. The Bronchos also have the No. 3 scoring defense in the league, holding opponents to just 59.9 points per game.

Offensively, Melinda Murillo continues to lead the Bronchos heading into the final weekend of the season. The senior point guard is averaging 16 points per game. She also leads the Bronchos in minutes played, field goals, 3-pointers, free-throws, assists, and steals.

Murillo has led UCO for the past two seasons since transferring before her junior year. The Guthrie, Okla. native has played 59 games for the Bronchos and has scored 900 points (475 last season, 425 this season).

Blessington is averaging 10.9 points per game this season. The junior guard is second to Murillo in a handful of offensive categories, including made 3-pointers and made free-throws, and assists. Blessington is also the team's second-leading rebounder, pulling down 5.2 rebounds per game, and is second on the team in blocks with 13.

Jesheon Cooper has the team-high for rebounds (10.6 per game) and blocks (75). Cooper averages 9.6 points per game.

Washburn, which on average outscores Central by 0.4 points per game, is led by Reagan Phelan, who scores 15.4 points per game. Alexis McAfee (11.3) and Axelle Bernard (10.2) also score in double figures for the Ichabods.

With two games left in the regular season, Central Oklahoma is currently tied for fifth place in the league standings. The top-four teams get a first-round bye in next week's postseason tournament. UCO has never earned a first-round bye since joining the league in 2012-13, but could this season with a pair of wins this weekend.

If Central beats Washburn Thursday, then Emporia State on Saturday, it will finish the season fourth in the league and advance directly to Kansas City, Mo. for the MIAA quarterfinals. UCO can end up anywhere from fifth to seventh with at least one loss this weekend, and would then host a first-round MIAA Tournament game next Monday at Hamilton.

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Players Mentioned

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

#42 Jesheon Cooper: F; 6' 5"; Senior

#22 Melinda Murillo: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#42 Jesheon Cooper
: 6' 5"; Senior
: F

#22 Melinda Murillo
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo

Players Mentioned

#13 Blake Blessington

#42 Jesheon Cooper

#22 Melinda Murillo