Women's Basketball 2/12/2021 9:30:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Host Newman Saturday

Central Looks To Sweep Season Series

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team will play its only contest of the week Saturday against Newman. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside Hamilton Field House.

It will be the second time the two schools have met this season. The Bronchos pulled away with a 61-57 victory in Wichita, Kansas in December. Central is 9-6 this season and looking to avoid a three-game losing streak after dropping both of its road contests last week. Newman is 3-13 overall this season and has lost seven in a row.

Central Oklahoma is averaging 68.9 points per game this season through 15 games played. The Bronchos post percentages of 41.5 (overall), 31.6 (3-pointers) and 71.6 (free-throws). UCO averages 5.6 made threes per game and 14.9 made free-throws per game.

Kelsey Johnson is still the team leader in both scoring and rebounding for the Bronchos. The senior forward is averaging 19.1 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game. Those marks both rank second in the MIAA in each category. Johnson also leads Central in minutes played (416), field goals made and attempted (108-for-189), field goal percentage (57.1), free-throws made and attempted (67-for-84), scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots (15).

Jaci Littell is averaging 8.3 points per game this season. The sophomore guard is second on the team with 16 made 3-pointers and does have five games this season with multiple threes. She is also averaging 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, and 1.0 steal per game.

Brooke Rayner is averaging 9.7 points per game. The junior guard has a team-high 21 made 3-pointers and also averages 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Rayner's 23 steals are a team high and also ranks 14th among all players in the MIAA.

Caley Young is averaging 6.3 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds per game. She is second on the team in boards per game.

Avery Allen is up to 6.7 points per game through 15 games played. She's third on the team in both made 3-pointers (11) and made free-throws (25). Allen is also averaging 3.9 assists per game – a mark that ranks among the best in the MIAA. She is sixth in total assists (59) and fifth in assists per game at 3.9.

Central Oklahoma has never lost to Newman. The Bronchos are 5-0 all-time against the Jets. UCO does claim in those four wins its largest margin of victory ever. Central beat Newman 106-35 during the 1996-97 season.

Newman averages 52.2 points per game this season and has two players leading the team in double figures. Faith Mason-Vestal averages 10.5 points per game and Brooke Haney averages 10.3 points per game. Madison Birnbaum averages 5.2 points per game and is the team's leading rebounder at 5.9 boards per contest.

Central Oklahoma will play a makeup game against Rogers State Monday, Feb. 15. That game was originally scheduled for Jan. 9 in Claremore. UCO will then turn around and host Rogers State Thursday Feb. 18. The Bronchos will also host Northeastern State next Saturday.

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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

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

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