Women's Basketball 2/17/2021 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Rogers State

Bronchos Closing In On Postseason Berth

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is scheduled to host Rogers State Thursday in an MIAA matchup at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 10-6 this season and has six games left on the schedule before the MIAA Tournament next month. Central currently is sixth in the league standings and needs just one win to officially clinch a postseason berth. The Bronchos have made the league's postseason tournament in seven consecutive seasons since joining the MIAA eight years ago.

UCO will have to play its final six games in a nine-day window. The Bronchos are scheduled to host Northeastern State Saturday in the final home game of the 2020-21 season for Central. UCO is also scheduled to play at Missouri Western (Wednesday), at Central Missouri (Thursday), and at Missouri Southern (Saturday) next week. The Missouri Southern game is on the final day of the 2020-21 regular season. A return trip to Rogers State that has been twice postponed still needs to be rescheduled around those four games.

Central Oklahoma enters this week averaging 69.4 points per game this season and outscores its opponents by a 3.1 margin, allowing 66.3 points per game. UCO shoots 41.6 percent from the floor overall, 32.3 percent from behind the arc, and 72.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Bronchos average 5.8 made 3-pointers per game and an even 15 made free-throws per game.

Kelsey Johnson still leads UCO in several categories. The senior forward is averaging 18.9 points per game this season to go with a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game. She's shooting 58.2 percent from the field and leads the team with 72 made free-throws through 16 games played.

Johnson ranks second in the MIAA in both scoring and rebounding. She ranks first in field goal percentage and is the only player in the league shooting better than 50 percent. And she ranks fourth in the MIAA in made free-throws.

Brooke Rayner is the second-leading scorer for Central, averaging 9.2 points per game. She shoots 45.5 percent overall and 38.2 percent from behind the 3-point line. Rayner has a team-high 21 made 3-pointers this season. She also averages 3.1 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game. The latter is the best mark on the Bronchos.

Jaci Littell is third in scoring in the lineup averaging 9.0 points per game through 16 games played. The sophomore has made 20 threes this season, one less than Rayner, and is second in both free-throws made and attempted. Littell is 46 of 62 from the charity stripe this season. She also averages 3.9 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, and one steal per game.

Avery Allen, 6.4 points per game, is the team leader when it comes to assists. The redshirt freshman is averaging 3.9 dishes per contest. Her 63 total assists rank sixth in the MIAA while her 3.9 average ranks fourth. Allen also is third on the team with 11 made 3-pointers and third on the team with 25 made free-throws.

Caley Young chips in 6.0 points per game to go with 4.5 rebounds per game while Clary Donica averages 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Kaci Richardson adds 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. That trio all lends a hand in the effort inside for Central Oklahoma.

Taylor Dement is averaging 4.6 points per game, 2.4 assists per game and 1.3 steals per game.

Rogers State comes to Edmond averaging 64.7 points per game and has a minus-9.8 differential in the scoring column, giving up 74.6 points per game. The Hillcats of Claremore, Oklahoma are led by Samariah Thompson, who scores 16.3 points per game, and Maya Buckhanon, who averages 14.8 points per game. Vanessa Gajdosova and Bailey Kliewer average 8.2 points per game. Kliewer is the team's leading rebounder at 5.3 boards per game.

Central Oklahoma played Rogers State for the first time in school history last season, which was RSU's first in the MIAA. The Bronchos swept the season series, winning 82-59 in Claremore and 72-57 in Edmond.

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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