Box Score

Central Okla. CentOK 14-7,14-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Central Mo. CentMo 18-3,18-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Central Okla. CentOK

14-7,14-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Final

Feb. 25, 2021

Central Mo. CentMo

18-3,18-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Central Okla. CentOK	9	10	32	25	76
Central Mo. CentMo	24	10	21	24	79

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/25/2021 11:15:00 PM | Chris Brannick

UCO Comeback Ends In Bitter Defeat

Bronchos Erase 19-Point Deficit Before Three-Point Loss

Next Game:

at Missouri Southern

2/27/2021 | 1:30 p.m.

Next Game

Full Schedule

Feb. 27 (Sat) / 1:30 p.m.

at Missouri Southern

Recap
Roster

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team dropped a 79-76 contest at Central Missouri Thursday night, ending a five-game win streak the Bronchos brought into the game.

Central Oklahoma is now 14-7 with one game left in the regular season. That matchup is Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Missouri Southern. UCO will take on the MIAA Tournament next week as the postseason commences.

"We just didn't play very good in the first half, really the first quarter, and even though we had a chance in the end, I think that hurt us," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "Once we got some intensity and some energy and we started to make shots, we played really well. But we need to play a complete game."

Central Oklahoma trailed by 15 points after the first quarter and as many as 19 points early in the second quarter. The Bronchos were down by 15 still at halftime. But a furious comeback in the third quarter made a game of things for UCO.

The Bronchos trailed by just four after three quarters, 55-51. In the final minute of play, Central found a way back to within one basket, and Jaci Littell's baseline jumper tied the game, 75-75, with 37 seconds left to play.

UCO gave up a basket on the other end to fall behind 77-75, but Clary Donica drew a foul and had a chance to tie the game again with 29 seconds left. She hit the first free-throw but missed the second. On the rebound, Littell was knocked to the ground as her and a Central Missouri player collided going out of bounds. The referee signaled the ball to stay with UCO, but after a video review, the call was overturned and UCM took back possession.

UCM hit two free-throws to go up 79-76. Littell missed a tough layup in traffic with five seconds left and the Bronchos couldn't corral the rebound and the game ended.

Kelsey Johnson led Central Oklahoma with 24 points and 12 rebounds Thursday night, securing her 12th double-double of the season. Johnson was 8-for-14 from the floor, 1-for-2 from 3-point range, and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also had an assist and a steal.

Clary Donica added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. She was 3-for-9 from the floor but added five made free-throws. Littell and Brooke Rayner each scored 10 points and each had four rebounds and each had two steals.

Central Missouri opened the game with an 8-0 run to take a lead it never relinquished. UCO answered with a 7-0 run to make it 8-7 in the early going, but UCM then posted an 8-0 run to go up 15-7. The Bronchos trailed 24-9 after the first 10 minutes of play.

The Bronchos played even in the second quarter, with both teams scoring 10 points to make it 34-19 at halftime. Central shot just 24 percent in the first half, making only 8 of 33 shots.

In the third quarter, the Bronchos came storming back. UCO opened the quarter on an 8-3 run and their was life in the Central Oklahoma squad.

Caley Young knocked down a jumper to start things off, Rayner added another and Johnson and Rayner added two more buckets after a UCM three. Central used that run to cut it to 10 points, 37-27. UCO then followed the next UCM basket with a 6-0 run. Johnson made two free-throws and a layup before Rayner scored again and it was 39-33 with 6:25 to play in the third quarter.

Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri stayed within 4-7 points for the remainder of the quarter. That continued again into the fourth quarter before a late Broncho rally.

After giving up a UCM three with 4:48 to play, Central Oklahoma went on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to tie game with Littell's baseline jumper before the tough ending for the Bronchos.

Taylor Dement and Maddie Harelson each scored five points for the Bronchos Wednesday night. Young scored four, Aliyah Llanusa scored three, and Tayler Factor added two points.

Avery Allen scored two points and added six assists.

Central Oklahoma finished shooting 40.3 percent from the floor, just 16.7 percent from behind the arc, and 80 percent from the free-throw line. UCO made a season-high 24 free-throws Wednesday. UCM made and attempted season highs from the line, going 32-for-36 from the stripe.

Central Oklahoma will now turn its attention to the final game of the 2020-21 regular season. The Bronchos take on Missouri Southern Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Print Friendly Version