Women's Basketball 2/19/2021 11:30:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Hosts Northeastern State In Home Finale

Bronchos Welcome Riverhawks Saturday

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team will play at Hamilton Field House for the final time this season Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos host Northeastern State at 1:30 p.m. in an MIAA contest.

Central is 11-6 this season and will play four road games next week to conclude the 2020-21 regular season. The Bronchos have clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament, scheduled to begin March 3.

UCO is averaging 69.8 points per game this season and enters Saturday's home finale shooting 41.8 percent overall. The Bronchos shoot 31.9 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 5.8 made 3-pointers per game. UCO also shoots 72.2 percent from the free-throw line and average 15 makes per game from the stripe.

Kelsey Johnson leads the Bronchos in several categories. The senior forward is averaging 18.9 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game through 17 games played this season. She is ranked second in the MIAA in both categories.

Johnson is shooting 57.6 percent overall this season, having made 121 of 210 total shots. She also leads the team at the free-throw line and is a combined 76-for-95 (80 percent) from the line this season.

Brooke Rayner is the second leading scorer for Central, averaging an even 9.0 points per game. Rayner has a team-high 23 made 3-pointers and also averages 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Jaci Littell is averaging 8.9 points per game to land third on the team scoring list. Littell, a sophomore, has made 20 threes this season and is also second on the team in made free-throws. She is 47-for-65 (72.3 percent) from the line this season. Littell also averages 4.0 rebounds per game.

Avery Allen is averaging 6.5 points per game to go with 4.1 assists per game. She ranks among the league leaders in assists. Her 69 total assists rank fifth overall and her 4.1 assists per game average ranks third among all players in the MIAA.

Caley Young, averaging 5.9 points per game, also averages 4.4 rebounds per game. Clary Donica, averaging 4.9 points per game, also averages 4.5 rebounds per game. And Kaci Richardson, averaging 4.1 points per game, also averages 4.2 rebounds per game.

Taylor Dement, who made her first career start Thursday night against Rogers State, averages 4.6 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game.

Northeastern State comes to Edmond averaging 63.5 points per game this season. Zaria Collins leads the team with 16.5 points per game and is also the team leader with 7.5 rebounds per game. Cenia Hayes isn't far behind in either category. She averages 16 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma did beat NSU once already this season. The Bronchos won 71-44 in Tahlequah back on January 7. Central has won nine in a row in the series dating back to 2016.

UCO won't take much time after the NSU game to move on. The Bronchos are scheduled to play at Rogers State on Sunday afternoon. Central will play at Missouri Western next Wednesday, at Central Missouri next Thursday, and finish off the 2021 season Saturday at Missouri Southern.

Print Friendly Version

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