Women's Basketball 2/19/2019 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Fort Hays State

TICKETS
WATCH
LIVE STATS
PARKING INFO

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team begins a four-game homestand Thursday when the Bronchos host fourth-ranked Fort Hays State at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

UCO is hosting Hays, and will host each of the final four games of the 2018-19 regular season. The Bronchos host Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Northeastern State on Tuesday, Feb. 26, and close out the regular season against Emporia State on Saturday, March 2.

Central Oklahoma is 15-10 this season and has a 6-9 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are currently in ninth-place in the league standings ahead of next month's conference tournament and are looking to officially clinch a berth in that 10-team field in Kansas City, Mo.

"We know that Hays is a good team and we know that we are going to have to play a really good game Thursday," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "We are going to have to play well and really need to shoot well. But we're up for it and ready to get out there get after it."

UCO is led by a trio of double-digit scorers. Micayla Haynes, Ireon Smith, and Shatoya Bryson – all juniors – have led UCO in scoring in nearly every game this season. Seniors Blake Blessington and Megan Hartness have also taken turns leading the Bronchos on offense.

Haynes averages 11.6 points per game this season and has a team-high 44 made 3-pointers. Smith averages 10.8 points per game and averages a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. Bryson averages 10.3 points per game and has a team-high 46 made free-throws this season.

Blessington averages 8.8 points per game and is second or third on the team in numerous categories. The Harrah, Okla. native has 34 made 3-pointers, third-most, 32 made free-throws, third-most, 5.0 rebounds per game, second-most, 2.3 assists per game, third-most, and she is also one of five Bronchos to total 20 steals this season, averaging almost one per game.

Hartness averages 6.8 points per game and recently had a run of four games where she averaged 15 points per game. The senior from Arkansas is also one of three Bronchos with 30 steals on the season, averaging 1.2 per game.

The Bronchos average 66.7 points per game as a team, and shoot 41.3 percent from the field. UCO shoots 33.7 percent from behind the arc, averaging 7.8 made 3-pointers per game. The Bronchos also average 11.1 made free-throws per game.

Fort Hays State is 23-1 on the season, 14-1 in the MIAA, and brings an eight-game win streak to Edmond. The Tigers beat UCO 81-61 in Hays, Kan. back on Jan. 12.

Fort Hays State is led by Tatyana Legette, who averages a team-high 13 points per game and a team-high 8.6 rebounds per game. Lanie Page (11.4), Kacey Kennett (10.5), and Belle Barbieri (10.1), also average double figures for Hays. The Tigers as a team average 77.9 points per game.

UCO beat Fort Hays State the last time the team's faced off in Hamilton Field House. After leading by 10 with 2:43 to play in the game last February, UCO allowed Hays to within two, 72-70, with 40 seconds left. But on the final play of the game, Blessington blocked Fort Hays State guard Carly Heim's jump shot to seal the win for the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma's Saturday matchup with Nebraska-Kearney is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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