Central Oklahoma Visits Washburn Thursday

First Road Trip Of The Season For The Bronchos

TOPEKA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team returns to the court Thursday with a 6 p.m. tipoff against Washburn in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play at Lee Arena.

Central Oklahoma (2-0) is making its first road trip of the young season. The Bronchos edged Missouri Southern in the season opener and then followed that with a blowout win over Pittsburg State two days later. Central was off last week.

The Bronchos are led by Kelsey Johnson, a senior forward who was named MIAA Player of the Week following the first week of the season. Johnson posted 30 points in the opener and 26 in the second game. She also had 11 and 13 rebounds respectively in those games.

Johnson set a school record last season in shooting 60.2 percent for the entire year. She hit 59 percent of her shots in the first two games, connecting on 23 of 39 attempts, including one 3-pointer. She also has a team-high nine made free-throws on 13 attempts.

Avery Allen and Jaci Littell are also averaging double figures for the Bronchos. Allen scored 17 points in her Broncho debut against Missouri Southern and is averaging 11.5 points per game after two contests. She averages a team-high three assists per game and is a combined 8-for-10 from the free-throw line. Littell averages 11 points per game after two games played, has a team-high four made 3-pointers, and is also 8-for-10 from the free-throw line this season.

The Bronchos have plenty of other options with a well-balanced attack. Central is averaging 77 points per game after two games, hitting 45.5 percent of its shots overall, 31.3 percent of its attempts from behind the arc, and 68.8 percent of its free-throws.

UCO averages 43.5 rebounds per game, eight more than its opponents, and also forces 17.5 turnovers per game, tallying 9.5 steals per game.

Washburn is 0-2 this season and coming off a loss Tuesday night at Fort Hays State. The Ichabods average 60.5 points per game through a pair of games this season. Washburn shoots 45.5 percent from the floor overall, 33.3 percent from behind the arc, and 75 percent from the free-throw line.

Aubree Dewey (12.5 points per game), Nuria Barrientos (11), and Hunter Bentley (10) lead Washburn in scoring. Bentley's eight rebounds per game is also the team high. Dewey and Bentley lead the team with three made 3-pointers each over two games.

Central Oklahoma will continue its road trip Saturday, taking on Emporia State at 3 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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen

#33 Kelsey Johnson

#13 Jaci Littell

Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen

#33 Kelsey Johnson

#13 Jaci Littell