Women's Basketball 12/4/2020 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits Emporia State Saturday

EMPORIA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team continues its short road swing Saturday with a 3 p.m. matchup against Emporia State.

Central is 2-1 on the young season, as is Emporia. The MIAA was the first league in the country to return to play this season and UCO did so Thursday, Nov. 19 with a 75-74 win over Missouri Southern. The Bronchos followed that with a blowout victory over Pittsburg State before taking Week 2 off. Central lost its game earlier this week, 80-70, at Washburn on Thursday.

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. After the week off, Johnson returned with the same form of play earlier this week. She posted 31 points and eight rebounds in Central's matchup at Washburn. Johnson has posted a career-high twice already this season. Her two 30-point games are the 23rd & 24th all-time at Central. Her 31 on Thursday is the 15th-most in one game in school history.

Johnson earned Second Team All-MIAA after her junior season in 2019-20, her first season at Central. She averaged 14 points per game and six rebounds per game. Both led UCO. This season, she's doubled the scoring output and is averaging 29 points per game through three games played. She's also averaging 10.7 rebounds per game heading into Saturday's contest. Johnson is also shooting 62.5 percent from the floor this season. She hit 60.5 percent overall last season, which set a school record for the best mark in any single season.

Junior guard Brooke Rayner, who missed the season-opener due to quarantine restrictions, has returned to her normal role for the Bronchos. Rayner is averaging eight points per game in two games played and has five assists and two steals.

Sophomore guard Jaci Littell also averages eight points per game and is grabbing 3.7 rebounds per game. Littell has four made 3-pointers and 10 made free-throws in three games.

Avery Allen is averaging 8.3 points per game, boosted by a season-high 17 in the season opener. Allen is also leading the team with 3.7 assists per game, 14 total, through three games played. She also has five steals and is 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.

True freshman Karly Wadsworth leads the team with six made 3-pointers through three games played this season. She's made at least one in every game and had a season-high three makes from behind the arc in Thursday's game at Washburn. Wadsworth is 6-for-13 overall from 3-point range this season and is averaging 7.3 points per game.

Central trails Emporia State 24-7 in the all-time series. The Bronchos split the regular season series 1-1 each year from 2016-19, but lost both meetings last season. UCO and Emporia State also met in the 2017 MIAA Championship, with ESU edging out the Bronchos.

Emporia State is led by Tre'Zure Jobe, who averages 23.3 points per game, four rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Karsen Schultz (16.0), Kali Martin (13.0), Daley Handy (10.0) also help lead the Hornets to a 70.7 points per game average.

Central Oklahoma only plays once next week, Saturday, Dec. 12 at home against Nebraska Kearney. Tipoff from Hamilton Field House 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

#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

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