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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Brooke Rayner
61
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 3-3,3-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
57
Newman Newman 2-5,2-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Central Okla. CentOK
3-3,3-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
61
Final
57
Newman Newman
2-5,2-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Okla. CentOK 14 16 17 14 61
Newman Newman 8 17 14 18 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Tops Newman With Defense

WICHITA, Kan. – A stingy defensive effort in the final minutes helped the University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team beat Newman 61-57 Saturday. Central Oklahoma (3-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, thanks in part to a strong performance on the defensive end of the floor in the fourth quarter, as well as four players scoring in double figures on offense for the Bronchos.
 
"We still didn't shoot the ball very well but we played a lot better," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "We've been looking for someone to step up and we got some of that today. We're going into our break now and we need more of this to continue when we come back."
 
Kelsey Johnson and Caley Young led the Bronchos with 12 points each. Jaci Littell added 11 and Brooke Rayner scored 10 points. Johnson added 12 rebounds to go with her 12 points.
 
Central held a lead for most of the first quarter. After Newman scored the game's first points, Avery Allen made 1 of 2 free-throws and Johnson and Young followed with layups that gave the Bronchos an early 5-2 lead. UCO led 10-5 after the first quarter media timeout and 14-8 after the first quarter.
 
Central made a big run to start the second quarter. It started in the first quarter with a 4-0 run to end the quarter, then continued into the second frame with a 7-0 start by the Bronchos. Littell made two free-throws and a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, then Clary Donica added a layup to put Central Oklahoma up 21-8 with 8:08 to play in the first half.
 
Newman stormed back though. A 15-2 run by the Jets followed and ended with the game tied, 23-23, with just under two minutes to play till halftime. Central ended the half on a 7-2 and took a 30-25 lead into the break.
 
UCO opened the third quarter with another run. Johnson and Young took it into their own hands this time. Johnson made two layups, then Young made two of her own – the latter coming with an additional free-throw with made the run to open the quarter 9-3 by the Bronchos.
 
Central held its biggest lead of the quarter, 41-30, after Johnson scored again. Newman pushed back and cut the lead to 41-35, but Littell hit a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch to help preserve the Bronchos lead. Central led 47-39 heading into the final quarter.
 
Newman again stormed back and took its first lead since the first quarter, going ahead 56-55, with a free-throw with three minutes to play. Central responded with a 6-1 run to end the game and take the victory. UCO's defensive effort in the fourth proved the difference. The Bronchos held Newman without a field goal over the final 4:09 in the game.
 
Allen and Donica both added seven points for the Bronchos and Taylor Dement added two.
 
Central hit 33.9 percent of its shots Saturday, making 20 of 59 from the floor. UCO hit 5 of 19 3-point attempts, with Littell's three from outside leading the way. Rayner made two from behind the arc as well. Central also added 16-for-21 mark from the free-throw line.
 
The Bronchos are off for the holidays. Central will not play again until Thursday, Jan. 7 when UCO travels to Northeastern State.
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