Women's Basketball 12/14/2020 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Fort Hays State Tuesday

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is back in action Tuesday evening with an MIAA matchup with Fort Hays State scheduled at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Central Oklahoma (2-2) welcomes Fort Hays State (2-0) in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 10, then moved back to Saturday, Jan. 2 due to finals week, then moved a second time up to Tuesday evening.

UCO is looking to get back in the win column after starting the new season 2-0. The Bronchos beat Missouri Southern 75-74 in the season-opener before blowing past Pittsburg State, 80-50, two days later. Central then had a week off before tracking north to take an 80-70 loss at Washburn. UCO lost to Nebraska Kearney this past Saturday, 63-43, at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos continue to be led by Kelsey Johnson, who is averaging 25.5 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. Johnson leads the MIAA in scoring and rebounding and is the only player in the league averaging a double-double.

She ranks third nationally in scoring and 17th in rebounding and is one of just 15 players in the country averaging a double-double.

Johnson has also twice this season posted 30-point games. She scored 31 in the opener and 30 at Washburn. No Broncho has ever scored 30 points in a game three times in any season.

Central is looking for more help from its supporting cast.

Avery Allen and Jaci Littell are both averaging 7.0 points per game. Allen leads the team in assists at 3.5 per game and also has 11 made free-throws, third most on the team. Littell, who averages 3.5 rebounds per game, is second on the team with 12 made free-throws.

Taylor Dement (6.5), Karly Wadsworth (5.5) and Brooke Rayner (5.3) have all chipped in on the scoring load.

Central is averaging 67 points per game this season and allowing 66.8 per contest. The Bronchos are a plus-2 in rebounding and looking to improve from a minus-1 turnover margin. UCO forces 16 turnovers per game, but through four games is averaging 16.8 itself.

Fort Hays State has played in just two games this season. The Tigers of Hays, Kansas didn't play their first game until Dec. 1 and then waited 12 more days to play their second contest. Hays is 2-0 with wins over Washburn and Newman.

Fort Hays State averages 71.5 points per game and is allowing 58.5. The Tigers shoot 41.9 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the arc to go with 64.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Central Oklahoma will follow Tuesday's game with one more this week, a Saturday trip up to Wichita, Kansas to take on Newman. That game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#4 Taylor Dement: G; 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#4 Taylor Dement
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

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