Women's Basketball 7/17/2020 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Friday Features: The History Of Women's Basketball At Central

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball program completed its 50th official season in 2019-20, but there is another 50-plus years of history prior to that. In this week's Friday Feature, we look at the storied past of the program.

Central played women's basketball as early as 1903. The Vista, UCO's student newspaper, published its first issue that year and reported in December that "the girls from Normal defeated Oklahoma City High School, 13-0."

In 1914, Central moved indoors. Yes, indoors. Broncho women's basketball was played outdoors for the first decade or so before moving into Central Hall. Games prior to that were mostly played outdoors, or in "The Cow Shed" as students of those early days called it. That old wooden structure was essentially a barn where the Nigh University Center now stands.

Basketball was played at Central Hall until 1928 when play moved to the new Wantland Hall. The Bronchos played in that gym longer than any other. It wasn't until 1980 when Central began playing in Hamilton Field House, where they currently play. UCO played in Wantland Hall for 53 years and has played in Hamilton for 40 years.

So about the discrepancy in the history. How did the team just play its 50th season when they've been playing for almost 120 years?

February 10, 1970. Central defeats Oklahoma Christian 38-33. Here is the report from The Vista.

… CSC Bronchettes defeated Oklahoma Christian College 38 to 33 in Women's Intercollegiate Basketball competition, Tuesday, Feb. 10. This is the first year that women throughout Oklahoma will be playing the full court with five on the court. …

It is well documented that women's sports prior to 1970 were not treated anything close to the way men's sports were. All of this changed around that time, including the now famous Title IX ruling that created some equality between the two.

Central women have always been allowed to play sports. But to actually compete in them, for the university, that's been a different story. For years, women were allowed to gather and play various sports, and participate in all of them, in what was called "field days." The Women's Athletic Association was formed in during the 1923-24 school year and all students had the opportunity to participate in hiking, field hockey, and golf. By 1928, archery, track & field, and fencing were also available. All of these of course along with basketball.

Then there was the way the women's game was played. As noted in that Vista report, it was the first year the women would play full court with five players. Women's basketball has a long history of playing 6-on-6 with players playing on one end of the court or the other.

So February 10, 1970, Central beats Oklahoma Christian in what is today declared as the first official basketball game for the Bronchos. It was the first organized women's basketball game played at Central as the game is known today. Central also beat Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene that first season.

Dr. Virginia Peters led those early teams, coaching the Bronchos from 1969-80. Then, Central hired John Keely, who would coach the Bronchos from 1980-2004, winning 311 games along the way.

The 1981-82 season still stands as one of the best ever at UCO. Keely led the Bronchos to a 25-10 record, an AIAW State and Regional championship and a spot in the second round of the AIAW national tournament. There are several school records that were set that year that still stand today.

Most points scored in a season (2,573), most field goals made in a season (1,056), and most field goals attempted in a season (2,320). Future UCO Hall of Fame inductee Gayle Stout also has records for most field goals made in a season (256) that season, as well as most field goals attempted in a season (549).

Patti Komalty, also now in the UCO Athletics Hall of Fame, set some records that season – two of which came in what might be the greatest single game in UCO women's basketball history. Komalty tallied 23 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds, and 11 steals – a quadruple-double – in an 83-71 win over Southeastern on February 3, 1982.

Her 13 assists in a game against Southeastern is the most in any game and her 11 steals in that same game is a school record. She posted 109 steals that season, which is also a school record.

Keely finished his Central coaching career with a 331-353 record in 2004 and after a two-year run by Keely protégé and former Broncho standout Shawn Williams, Central hired Guy Hardaker, who still coaches today.

Hardaker has led UCO to its greatest heights. Four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sweet 16 appearances, a pair of Lone Star Conference North Division titles, a top-10 national ranking, and much more. Hardaker has 267 victories as head coach of the Bronchos. The former Central baseball player, who is as well in the UCO Athletics Hall of Fame, has also posted six of the school's eight 20-win seasons, including a school record 27 wins in 2008-09.

Hardaker led the Bronchos to LSC North co-champs and the NCAA playoffs, their first ever, in 2007-08, going 24-8. The following season, a 27-6 record, an LSC North outright title, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Two more followed. UCO went 22-8 in 2009-10 and made the tournament again, and then went 22-10 in 2010-11 and went to the Sweet 16 for a second time.

In 2016-17, boosted by the best start in school history (11-0), Central eventually reached a No. 7 ranking in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25. That was, and still is, the highest ranking in school history. Central went 25-8 that season and made the NCAA Tournament for a fifth time.

In the UCO record book, 17 team records have been set since Hardaker took over coaching in 2006 and 19 individual records have been set by a Hardaker-coached player.

The UCO Athletics Hall of Fame, which as mentioned features Stout and Komalty, also features a handful of other women who starred on the court for Central. Lizzie Brenner (2005-09), Courtney Berry (1997-99), Ton'Nea Cox (1991-93), Christy Heavin (1995-98), and Carrie Tucker (1983-84) join Stout (1982-83) and Komalty (1982-83).

Brenner is arguably the greatest basketball player to ever play at Central. She holds the all-time scoring lead with 1,770 points, and five total individual records. Brenner's 914 career rebounds and 297 career steals are also both school records.

Cox has the single game and season rebounding record. She posted 22 rebounds against Abilene Christian in 1992 and 334 during that season. Heavin, who is third on the all-time scoring list at 1,376 points, owns three school records, including 16 of 18 free-throws in one game, both which are most in a single game at Central. Berry ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list a 1,127 career points. And Tucker ranks fifth on the all-time steals list with 150 and sixth on the all-time assists list with 305.

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