Women's Basketball 1/10/2020 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Takes On Pitt State

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball wraps up a short, two-game road trip Saturday with a crucial MIAA showdown against Pittsburg State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. from PSU's John Lance Arena.

UCO is 11-3 this season and has a 5-1 record in league play. PSU is 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA. Central has won both of its games this week, taking a Monday victory over Lincoln and winning at Missouri Southern Thursday night. Pitt lost at Fort Hays State on Monday before beating Newman Thursday night.

UCO is averaging 78.9 points per game through 14 games this season. UCO as a team averages 11.4 steals per game and forces 22.9 turnovers per outing. Central has forced a brutal 88 turnovers in three games since returning from the holiday break. The Broncho defense has been suffocating at times and holds opponents to just 36.3 percent shooting overall and 29.3 percent from behind the arc.

Kelsey Johnson continues to lead this Central Oklahoma basketball team. The Washington, Okla. native leads the team in field goals made (70), free-throws made (32), free-throws attempted (40), scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg), and blocked shots (20). Johnson has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games for the Bronchos and has done so in 11 of 14 games this season.

Micayla Haynes is second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. She's made a team-high 24 3-pointers, averages 2.7 assists per game, and is also second on the team in steals with 20. Haynes has scored in double figures in 8 of 14 games this season and three of the last four. She's also recorded three steals in a game three times this season, and has 10 steals in her last four games.

Shatoya Bryson, who averages 8.7 points per game, leads the team in steals with 34. She's also third on the team with 19 made 3-pointers.

True freshman Jaci Littell continues to provide a valuable asset on the floor for the Bronchos. The Stillwater native is third on the team in scoring in her first season on campus, averaging 9.5 points per game. She is second on the team with 21 made 3-pointers and is shooting a team-best 43.8 percent from outside the arc. Littell also averages 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Pittsburg State averages 79.6 points per game and as a team, shoots 47.1 percent from the floor overall this season. Four players average double figures with Tristan Gegg leading the way at 17.5 points per game. Athena Alvarado (15.5), Kaylee DaMitz (13.1), and Maya Williams (13.0) also help out. Williams's 8.3 rebounds per game leads the team while Alvarado averages 8.2 boards per game herself.

Pittsburg State owns a 23-9 all-time advantage in the series dating back to the 1982-83 season and has won four in a row. UCO's last win came at Pitt State in the 2016- 17 campaign.

Central Oklahoma will return home for a pair of league games next week. The Bronchos host rival Northeastern State on Wednesday night in Hamilton Field House and will also host Rogers State next Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

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

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