Women's Basketball 2/26/2020 10:07:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hosts Fort Hays State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team opens the final weekend of the 2019-20 regular season with a Thursday matchup against Fort Hays State. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association contest tips off at 5:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 17-8 on the season and has an 11-6 record in league play. The Bronchos are currently tied for sixth place with FHSU, which is 20-6 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA. The MIAA Tournament begins next week. UCO can reach as high as fourth following Saturday's season finale, and can fall no lower than seventh.

"We need to focus on one game and one game only," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "The only game that matters is the next one. We know Fort Hays is a good team and it's going to take a good effort from everybody to beat them. But that's the only thing that matters right now. We can't think about the tournament until the tournament starts."

Central Oklahoma beat Fort Hays State, 77-66, two weeks ago in Hays, Kan. The Bronchos earned their first win against Hays on the road ever with that win. Clary Donica led UCO with 19 points and nine rebounds in that game. Kelsey Johnson added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Johnson leads the Bronchos this season, averaging 13.4 points per game. The junior forward is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.7 boards per game. Johnson leads UCO in numerous categories. Her 60.2 field goal percentage mark not only leads UCO, but also the MIAA, and is tied for eighth on the national level.

Donica chips in with 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She is fifth in scoring and third in rebounding on the Central roster.

Micayla Haynes is right behind Johnson in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game. The senior guard leads UCO in made 3-pointers, having knocked down 44 from outside this season. Haynes is also second on the team with 57 assists and 40 steals.

Shatoya Bryson, who averages 8.8 points per game, leads Central in both assists and steals. Bryson has 85 total assists, 3.4 per game, and 53 steals, 2.1 per game. Bryson ranks fourth in the MIAA in total steals.

Jaci Littell rounds out the starting five for the Bronchos that averages a combined 48.9 points per game. Littell scores 8.3 per game. The freshman is second on the team with 38 made 3-pointers and is one of four Bronchos averaging at least four rebounds per game. Littell pulls down 4.2 per game.

Central Oklahoma will wrap up the 2019-20 regular season Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. matchup against Nebraska Kearney. UCO will then turn its attention to the postseason. If UCO finishes seventh in the league standings, it will play Wednesday, March 4 in Kansas City. If the Bronchos finish anywhere from fourth to sixth, they will play Friday, March 6 in KC's Municipal Auditorium.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Shatoya Bryson: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#34 Micayla Haynes: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#3 Clary Donica: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

#21 Shatoya Bryson
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#34 Micayla Haynes
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#3 Clary Donica
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

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

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