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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Ireon Smith
56
Missouri Western MWSU 6-6, 1-2 MIAA
69
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 11-2, 2-1 MIAA
Missouri Western MWSU
6-6, 1-2 MIAA
56
Final
69
Central Oklahoma UCO
11-2, 2-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Missouri Western MWSU 9 13 19 15 56
Central Oklahoma UCO 12 14 14 29 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Grounds Griffons

EDMOND - The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball dispatched Missouri Western 69-56 Thursday night in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos improved to 11-2 on the season with the win and are now 2-1 in MIAA play. Missouri Western dropped to 6-6 this season and is 1-2 in league play.

"That was a really good win for our team tonight," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "Missouri Western is a tough matchup. We did a good job of playing our game tonight and I'm proud of the team for responding from our loss earlier this week when we really didn't play like ourselves."

Central Oklahoma got an all-around stellar performance from its starting five, four of which scored in double figures. The Broncho starting lineup combined for 63 of the team's 69 points.

Ireon Smith led the way with a huge 17-point, 12-rebound performance. Shatoya Bryson and Micayla Haynes both scored 14 points and both made a team-high four 3-pointers in doing so. And Blake Blessington tallied 10 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists. 

Madison Lee didn't hit double figures, but she didn't miss either. The senior guard was 3-for-3 on the night, including two 3-pointers, and added a pair of rebounds and a pair of assists. 

Central Oklahoma found an early lead Thursday. After giving up the game's first bucket to Missouri Western, the Bronchos went on a 9-0 run in the first quarter. Haynes hit her first 3-pointer to put UCO on the board, then alternated baskets with Smith to put the Bronchos up 9-2 with three minutes to play in the opening quarter. MWSU closed the gap to 12-9 by the end of the first 10 minutes.

Central Oklahoma then went on a 7-0 to start the second quarter. It held its largest first-half lead - 10 points - when Bryson knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:34 to go. The Bronchos led by 10 again later in the quarter before finishing the first half up 26-22.

Missouri Western showed its best effort in the third quarter. The Griffons continued to keep the game close, working the Broncho lead down to just one point with 2:27 to play in the third, and then taking its second lead of the game with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that made it 41-40 heading into the final frame.

UCO didn't waiver. 

The Bronchos went ahead on another Haynes 3-pointer to open the quarter. After MWSU tied the game, 43-43, UCO went ahead and never looked back. The Bronchos outscored Missouri Western 29-15 in the final 10 minutes to earn its second conference win of the season.

McKenna Pulley added four points off the bench and Megan Hartness two to aid in the Central victory. UCO made 11 3-pointers Thursday night, the fifth time the Bronchos have hit at least 10 from downtown this season. Central Oklahoma is 5-0 in such games.

UCO remains home for the weekend, continuing MIAA play on Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. tipoff against Northwest Missouri in Hamilton Field House.
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