Women's Basketball 2/9/2018 8:45:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Hosts Fort Hays State

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team returns to action Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when the Bronchos host Fort Hays State in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association affair at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos are 18-5 on the season and 9-5 in league play. Fort Hays State is 19-4 overall and 10-4 in the MIAA. The crucial tilt, ahead of a rematch next Saturday in Hays, Kan., should bear significant implications on which school gets a first-round bye in the MIAA Tournament at the end of the month.

"This game is a big game for us," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "But really, they all are in this league. The game last month was big, the game Thursday was big, and the rest of the games from here on out are big. And the girls know that. We just have to go out and there Saturday and play our game and worry about ourselves."

Fort Hays State is one game ahead of the Bronchos in the league standings with two weeks left in the regular season. UCO, which beat Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night, plays at UNK next Thursday and at Fort Hays State next Saturday before hosting Washburn and Emporia State in the final two games of the regular season the following weekend.

The Bronchos split their two meetings with the Tigers last season, losing in Hays and winning in Edmond.

Fort Hays State comes to Edmond winners of seven straight. The Tigers beat Northeastern State on Thursday night in Tahlequah. FHSU's last loss was Jan. 13 at home to Nebraska-Kearney.

The Tigers are led by three double-digit scorers, the leading scorer being Tatyana Legette, who averages 13.2 points per game. Carly Heim averages 11.5 points per game and Kacey Kennett scores 10.5 per contest.

Legette is also the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 8.1 boards per game. Kennett, though she shoots just 27 percent from behind the arc, is the team's leading 3-point shooter, with 34 makes.

Hays also has a duo averaging nine points per game. Taylor Rolfs (9.8) and Emma Stroyan (9.4) add to the Tigers' 72.3 points per game average, which is seventh in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma continues to be led by Melinda Murillo and Blake Blessington on offense. Murillo leads UCO overall, averaging 17 points per game. Blessington led UCO in scoring in Thursday's win with 18 points. She averages 11.1 per game.

Jesheon Cooper (9.3 points per game) leads the team in rebounding, with 10.3 per game, and in blocked shots, with an average of 2.95 per game.

Jo'Nah Johnson (7.9), Shatoya Bryson (5.3), and Megan Hartness (5.2) also chip in toward Central's 68.9 points per game, which is ninth in the league.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#23 Jo'Nah Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#32 Megan Hartness: G; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#23 Jo'Nah Johnson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#32 Megan Hartness
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G