Women's Basketball 1/22/2021 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Set For Northwest Missouri

Bronchos Take On Bearcats Saturday Afternoon

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team wraps up a short two-game road trip Saturday when the Bronchos take on Northwest Missouri State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 6-4 this season and looks to bounce back from a Thursday night loss at Emporia State. UCO missed a shot with two seconds left and lost 76-73.

That setback ended a four-game win streak Central had working. The Bronchos ended 2020 with a win at Newman and started 2021 with three more victories over Northeastern State, Central Missouri, and Lincoln.

Now UCO tries to get back in the win column at Northwest Missouri.

Kelsey Johnson remains the leading scorer at Central, averaging 20.5 points per game through 10 games played. Johnson's 10.3 rebounds per game also leads UCO. She also remains the only player in the MIAA that is averaging double figures in both. She's posted six double-doubles this season including one Thursday night at Emporia State.

Johnson is shooting 58.6 percent from the field this season and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Brooke Rayner dipped below 10 points per by the slimmest of margins after Thursday's game. The junior guard is averaging 9.9 points per game – 89 points in nine games. She is second on the team in made 3-pointers (12) and has made at least one in three straight games and in five of the last six games. Rayner also is second on the team with 13 steals, an average of 1.4 per game.

Jaci Littell lands third on the list in scoring at 8.5 points per game. She scored nine Thursday, including one 3-pointer. In her second season at Central, Littell is the team leader from behind the arc with 15 makes from outside. She has hit at least one in six straight games.

Littell has also been steady through 10 games in finding her way to the free-throw line. She is second on the team with 27 makes and is second on the team with 37 attempts. She's made at least one in every game this season.

Avery Allen is up over six points per game after another big game Thursday. She scored a season-high 18 to lead all scorers in the game. Allen topped her 17-point outing in the season-opening win against Missouri Southern. The redshirt freshman continues to distribute the ball on offense too. She has a team-high 44 assists and is averaging 4.4 per game. Allen ranks third and fourth respectively in the MIAA in those categories.

Caley Young is also up to six points per game. The freshman, who scored a combined eight points in her first four career games, scored 40 in the four that followed. Young also averages 4.1 rebounds per game this season.

Clary Donica, Taylor Dement, and Kaci Richardson are each averaging four points per game to help the Central effort.

UCO as a team is scoring 69.6 points per game. The Bronchos shoot 41.6 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from behind the arc, and 69.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Northwest Missouri is led by a trio of players scoring in double figures. Molly Hartnett (12.7), Jaelyn Haggard (10.9), and Emma Atwood (10.3) lead the way. Haggard scores all her points from outside, leading the team with 24 made 3-pointers. Atwood is also the team's leading rebounder at 5.5 per game.

Central Oklahoma is looking to not only get back in the win column for this season, but snap a two-game skid against Northwest Missouri. The Bronchos were bounced from the MIAA Tournament last season in the first round by Northwest. The all-time series is tied, 6-6, with Northwest holding a three-game win streak against the Bronchos.

Central will return to home following Saturday's contest. UCO is scheduled to play two games next week at Hamilton Field House. The Bronchos will take on Emporia State next Thursday and Washburn next Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#44 Kaci Richardson: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#4 Taylor Dement: G; 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

#42 Caley Young: F; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#11 Brooke Rayner
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#44 Kaci Richardson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#4 Taylor Dement
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#42 Caley Young
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: F