Women's Basketball 1/21/2020 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma To Visit Washburn

TOPEKA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball is back on the road in Week 11, taking on a pair of Kansas schools up Interstate 35. The Bronchos will visit the state capital Thursday and take on Washburn first before traveling to Emporia State on Sunday. UCO heads to Washburn with a 14-3 overall record and an 8-1 mark in league play. Washburn is 8-8 overall and 2-5 this season in the MIAA. Tipoff Thursday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma as a team averages 79.3 points per game this season. UCO has scored 80 or more 10 times in 17 games, with a season-high 107 points posted back in November. Central has made 500 field goals this season, shooting 43.4 percent from the floor. The Bronchos also shoot 33.3 percent from behind the arc and are 72.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Kelsey Johnson leads the Bronchos, averaging a team-high 13.1 points per game. The forward from Washington, Okla. is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 boards per game. Johnson leads the team in several categories, including field goals made (89), free-throws made (38), free-throws attempted (48), rebounds (122), and blocks (27).

Senior guard Micayla Haynes is close behind, averaging 11.8 points per game. Haynes is a 40 percent shooter and has a team-high 28 made 3-pointers. She is also second on the team in assists (43) and steals (24).

Shatoya Bryson leads Central in assists and steals. The senior guard is the fourth-leading scorer at 8.8 points per game, but has 58 assists, just over three per game, and 41 steals, 2.5 per game.

UCO's third senior, McKenna Pulley, is also a key player coming off the bench for the Bronchos. Pulley averages six points per game, three rebounds per game, and also has 15 steals in 17 games this season.

Freshman guard/forward Jaci Littell is averaging 9.3 points per game this season, having started all 16 games for the Bronchos. She leads the team in 3-point percentage (43.1), shooting 22-for-51 on the season. She is also second on the team in free-throws made (34), free-throws attempted (43), and rebounds (75 total, 4.7 per game).

Washburn enters Thursday's game 8-8 on the season. The Ichabods average 69.8 points per game and shoot 42.9 percent from the floor. Reagan Phelan leads the team at 12.9 points per game, Hunter Bentley averages 12.6 points per game, and Shelbe Piggie averages 11.6 points per game. Bentley leads the team in rebounds at 7.1 per game.

Washburn holds a slight edge in the all-time series, 10-8. UCO had won four in a row heading into the lone meeting last season before Washburn won that matchup.

Central Oklahoma takes on Emporia State Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. tip scheduled for White Auditorium. The Bronchos return home next week to take on Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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