Women's Basketball 1/14/2020 11:30:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Welcomes Northeastern State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team returns to Hamilton Field House Wednesday when the Bronchos take on Northeastern State in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play.

Central Oklahoma has a 12-3 record this season and is 6-1 in the MIAA. Northeastern State is 4-10 overall and has a 2-5 mark in league play.

UCO comes into the game Wednesday night on a three-game win streak, the fourth such streak this season. Each of Central's three losses separate a three-game win streak this season.

The Bronchos are averaging 79.5 points per game this season, having eclipsed the 80-point mark nine times in 15 games. UCO boasts a plus-16.1 scoring margin on the year, allowing only 63.4 points per game. The Broncho defense has been the catalyst for the high intensity offense. Central forces on average 22.8 turnovers per game this season and UCO averages 11.5 steals per game. That defense has led to an offense that takes on average 13 more shots per game than its opponent.

Junior Kelsey Johnson continues to lead the Bronchos, averaging a team-high 12.9 points per game. The forward from Washington, Okla. is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.4 boards per game. Johnson leads the team in several categories, including field goals made (77), free-throws made (34), free-throws attempted (42), rebounds (111), and blocks (22).

Senior guard Micayla Haynes is close behind, averaging 11.7 points per game. Haynes is a 40 percent shooter and has a team-high 26 made 3-pointers. She is also second on the team in assists (41) and steals (22).

Shatoya Bryson leads Central in assists and steals. The senior guard is the fourth-leading scorer at 8.8 points per game, but has 47 assists, just over three per game, and 37 steals, 2.5 per game.

Northeastern State is 4-10 this season and aiming to snap a four-game losing streak. The Riverhawks enter Wednesday's game averaging 60.9 points per game. Cenia Hayes leads the team with 14.9 points per game and Shae Sanchez is averaging 14.1 points per game. Hayes is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.1 per game. The two have made a combined 59 3-pointers through 14 games this season.

This is the second meeting of the season between the two old rivals. Central won 84-59 in Tahlequah on Dec. 7. Northeastern State does hold a 37-29 advantage in the all-time series. UCO head coach Guy Hardaker is 16-15 against NSU since taking over as Broncho head man before the 2006-07 season. UCO has won each of the last seven meetings. The longest win streak in the series that dates back to the 1977-78 season, is seven games. Central won that many from 1981-84, as well as its current streak. NSU won that many from 1999-2003.

Central Oklahoma will remain home for the weekend. The Bronchos host Rogers State Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#21 Shatoya Bryson

#34 Micayla Haynes

#33 Kelsey Johnson

Players Mentioned

#21 Shatoya Bryson

#34 Micayla Haynes

#33 Kelsey Johnson