Women's Basketball 11/27/2019 1:28:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Head South For Holiday

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is set to play a pair of Lone Star Conference foes this weekend as the Bronchos head south for the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic.

UCO will take on the host St. Mary's Friday at 4 p.m. before facing off with Lubbock Christian Saturday at 2 p.m. at SMU's Greehey Arena.

Central Oklahoma is 5-1 this season as the Bronchos approach the end of the first month of play. UCO is on a two-game win streak after beating Harding Tuesday night in Edmond. The Bronchos look to maintain a torrid pace on offense and a suffocating and relentless defensive effort this weekend.

Central is averaging 86.3 points per game this season and allowing 64.8, putting up a more than 21-point scoring margin on average through six games. Central Oklahoma is shooting almost 50 percent from the floor overall (45.7) and is forcing 22.2 turnovers per game.

Micayla Haynes, Kelsey Johnson, and Jaci Littell lead the way for the Bronchos.

Haynes leads the team in scoring, putting up 13.8 points per game. The senior point guard has a team-high 13 made 3-pointers and also averages three assists and two steals per game. Johnson averages 12.5 points per game and leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8.5 boards per game. She also shoots 60 percent from the floor, has made 4 of 6 threes, and is 15-for-17 from the free-throw line this season. Littell averages 11.3 points per game and is second on the team with 12 made 3-pointers this season.

Brooke Rayner also chips in 9.3 points per game off the bench. And Shatoya Bryson adds 8.8 points per game. Both have made seven 3-pointers through six games played.

Bryson has a team-high 18 steals this season, averaging an even 3.0 per game. The senior guard is second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with her 18 steals. Johnson, who has a team-high 13 blocked shots, is also second in the MIAA with that mark, averaging 2.1 per game.

UCO has 71 total steals through six games. There are six Bronchos with at least six steals this season.

St. Mary's is 2-2 this season and scores on average 68.2 points per game. The Rattlers allow 67.5 points per game. SMU is led by Soteria Banks' 19.8 points per game. Banks is a combined 15-for-30 from outside this season.

Lubbock Christian, which won the 2019 NCAA national championship, is 4-0 this season and averages just over 73 points per game. Maddi Chitsey leads the team, scoring 17 points per game.

After wrapping up a four-game homestand Tuesday, this weekend's games, which are also the last two non-conference games of the season, open a five-game road trip. UCO will also play at Rogers State and Northeastern State next weekend before visiting Newman later in December. The Bronchos don't play another home game until Jan. 4.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#13 Jaci Littell: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#33 Kelsey Johnson: F; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Jaci Littell
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#33 Kelsey Johnson
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F