Women's Basketball 11/20/2020 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Continues Opening Weekend Saturday

Bronchos Welcome Pittsburg State To Hamilton Field House

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball continues its return to play opening weekend with a Saturday showdown against Pittsburg State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside Hamilton Field House.

The MIAA is the first league in the country – NCAA Division I or Division II – to return to play basketball this season. Central returned to play Thursday with a 75-74 win over Missouri Southern and now turns its attention to Pittsburg State.

Kelsey Johnson, Central's senior forward and returning All-MIAA selection, left nothing to debate about her status as the best player in the conference. She posted a career-high 30 points Thursday night in the season opener and also pulled down 11 rebounds. Both of those were the most among any player in the league. Johnson did so on 13-for-19 shooting, a stout 68.4 percent. Last season she set a UCO school record by shooting 60.2 percent over the course of the season. Johnson also played 34 minutes Thursday. That's not a career-high though. She played 35 minutes in a double overtime contest against last season.

Jaci Littell had a standout freshman season a year ago. After one game in 2020, she's at it again. The sophomore from Stillwater knocked down the game-winning free-throws with eight seconds left Thursday night, sending UCO to the winner's circle. Littell scored 12 points and added six rebounds and four steals on the night.

Avery Allen made her Broncho debut Thursday – she sat out last season to redshirt – and she also didn't waste any time introducing herself to the MIAA. Allen scored 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting, adding one 3-pointer and a game-high eight free-throws. She got to the bucket with ease thanks to a shifty and quick penetrable style of play that will soon be the focus of opposing scouting reports.

Central Oklahoma looked to a small handful of role players to chip in Thursday night. Maddie Harelson scored seven points off the bench for the Bronchos, Tayler Factor added six points, and Karly Wadsworth scored three. That trio also added a combined eight rebounds and Harelson had a team-high three assists. Kaci Richardson, who didn't score and fouled out, also had three assists and two rebounds. She figures to be more of a factor in every game.

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State first played in 1982 and the Bronchos won 77-58. Last season, Central won 88-86. However, PSU does own a 23-10 advantage in the all-time series.

Pittsburg State went 17-11 last season and were 13-6 in league play. Though UCO beat the Pitt State head-to-head, PSU finished one game ahead of the Bronchos in the league standings. Pitt returns three starters this season and seven letter winners. Tristan Gegg (17.9 PPG), Maya Williams (11.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and Kaylee DaMitz (13.8 PPG) all earned All-MIAA honors last season.

UCO is off next week for Thanksgiving. The Bronchos play at Washburn (12/3) and at Emporia State (12/5) the following week.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

#20 Tayler Factor: F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#32 Maddie Harelson: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

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

#44 Kaci Richardson: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Karly Wadsworth: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#20 Tayler Factor
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: F

#32 Maddie Harelson
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

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

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

#44 Kaci Richardson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#21 Karly Wadsworth
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G