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Ireon Smith

Women's Basketball Chris Brannick

Bronchos Visit No. 4 Fort Hays State

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HAYS, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team wraps up a short, two-game road trip when the Bronchos take on Fort Hays State Saturday at 2 p.m. in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play at Gross Coliseum.
 
Central Oklahoma is 11-4 on the season and 2-3 in league play after a setback in the first game of the trip at Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night. Fort Hays State, ranked No. 4 in the country in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association Top 25, is 14-0 overall this season and 5-0 in MIAA competition.
 
"We know this game is going to be tough," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "But they're all tough to be honest. We just need to go out there focused and ready to play our game and execute."
 
Fort Hays State comes into Saturday's game averaging a league-best 81.9 points per game and also allows a league-best 53.2 points per game on defense. The Tigers average 19 made free-throws per game and force 20 turnovers per game.
 
FHSU is led by Tatyana Legette, who scores 11.6 points per game, but Lanie Page's 11.3 points per game is a close second. Kacey Kennett (10.7) and Belle Barbieri (10.1) also average double figures on offense. Legette is the team's leading rebounder at 7.6 rebounds per game.
 
Central Oklahoma counters with 66.9 points per game. The Bronchos are 11th in the MIAA in scoring offense, however, UCO has made 117 3-pointers this season, which ranks second in the league. Central and Fort Hays are both among the league's best at swiping balls on defense. Hays averages 11.5 steals per game, tops in the league, while the Bronchos average 9.7 steals per game, which ranks fourth in the MIAA.
 
Ireon Smith will look to continue a recent upward trend for the Bronchos. The junior center averages 11.2 points per game this season and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game. But Smith has three-straight double-doubles heading into Saturday's game. The Midwest City, Okla. native is averaging 14.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game over the past three games.
 
Micayla Haynes remains the team's leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game this season. Haynes has a team-high 27 made 3-pointers and shoots 40.3 percent from behind the arc. Shatoya Bryson also averages double figures, scoring 10.7 points per game. Bryson has hit 25 threes this season and has a team-high 30 made free-throws.
 
The Bronchos will return home following Saturday's game and ready for a pair of MIAA home games next weekend. UCO hosts Pittsburg State on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Field House before hosting Missouri Southern on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Shatoya Bryson

#21 Shatoya Bryson

G
5' 8"
Junior
Ireon Smith

#24 Ireon Smith

F
6' 0"
Junior
Micayla Haynes

#34 Micayla Haynes

G
5' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Shatoya Bryson

#21 Shatoya Bryson

5' 8"
Junior
G
Ireon Smith

#24 Ireon Smith

6' 0"
Junior
F
Micayla Haynes

#34 Micayla Haynes

5' 5"
Junior
G
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