Women's Basketball 1/8/2019 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Visit Kearney Thursday

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EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma makes a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association road trip beginning Thursday with a contest against Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos will visit Fort Hays State Saturday.

Central Oklahoma is 11-3 on the season and is 2-2 in league play. Kearney is 8-5 overall and 1-3 in MIAA games. Tipoff Thursday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from UNK's Health and Sports Center.

"We have to play well on the road," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "In this league, every game is tough, so when you go on the road you really have to play well to have a chance to win. I think we have a really good team and we just need to play as a team and do it well and try to get a win."

UCO has one conference win on the road this season – a 19-point decision at Missouri Southern one month ago – in two conference road games. The Bronchos also lost at Pittsburg State. What UCO did at Missouri Southern is what Hardaker says needs to happen for the Bronchos to get another win.

UCO shot over 50 percent from the floor and almost 50 percent from 3-point territory. The Bronchos got to the line 16 times on the night, grabbed over 30 rebounds and forced almost 20 turnovers. That's been the recipe for success.

Micayla Haynes continues to lead the Bronchos with a 12.4 points per game mark. The junior guard from Guthrie, Okla. has a team-high 25 made 3-pointers this season and is shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. Haynes also averages 1.2 steals per game.

Ireon Smith's 11 points per game is second on the team. The junior center from Midwest City, Okla. is the team's leading rebounder with an even 8.0 per game. Smith is also the team leader in field goal percentage, hitting 52.8 percent of her shots, including a 40.9 percent mark from 3-point land. She also averages 1.2 steals per game too as the Broncho defense hinges on active hands.

Shatoya Bryson and Blake Blessington combine to score 20 points per game from all over the floor. Both have had big games shooting outside, getting to the paint, and finding ways to get to the free-throw line.

Bryson averages 10.9 points per game, as well as 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Blessington averages 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The two, like Haynes and Smith, are also shooting above 40 percent from behind the arc. Bryson has hit 23 of 56 attempts (40.9 percent) and Blessington 21 of 50 (42.0 percent) from outside.

Madison Lee, Megan Hartness, and Kaci Richardson all average five points per game. Lee is a premier defender in the MIAA and is truly a helping hand in all facets of the game. Hartness is capable of scoring at will and swiping balls on defense. Richardson, who has missed the last 10 games due to injury, is anxious to get back on the court and start helping the Bronchos.

McKenna Pulley also averages five points per game (4.9) and grabs 2.5 rebounds per game. Pulley is another player that just finds a way to contribute when on the floor. Her 94.4 percent mark at the free-throw line is tops on the team.

Nebraska-Kearney is led by Kelsey Sanger, who averages 10.7 points per game. Brooke Carlson averages 9.8 points per game and is one of three players averaging more than four rebounds per game. Elisa Backes (8.8 ppg/4.1 rpg) and Shiloh McCool (8.6/6.1) also lead the Lopers.

Kearney won five straight games in a two-week period in November. The Lopers went 1-1 last week as conference play resumed. Central Oklahoma swept Kearney last season in the two meetings between the schools. The Bronchos hold a 7-6 all-time advantage in the series.

UCO will play Fort Hays State Saturday at 2 p.m. before returning home for a pair of MIAA games next weekend in Hamilton Field House.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#4 Madison Lee: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#24 Ireon Smith: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#12 McKenna Pulley: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#34 Micayla Haynes: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#44 Kaci Richardson: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#4 Madison Lee
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#24 Ireon Smith
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#12 McKenna Pulley
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#34 Micayla Haynes
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#44 Kaci Richardson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F