Women's Basketball 1/14/2022 2:28:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Visit Capital City Saturday

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is scheduled to play Lincoln in an MIAA matchup Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 10-6 overall this season and 6-4 in the MIAA. Lincoln is 5-10 overall and has a 1-8 record in league play heading into Saturday afternoon's contest. The Bronchos are currently in seventh place in the MIAA standings with still more than half of the league games left to play.

Central Oklahoma and Lincoln have played 12 times, with 10 of those meetings coming since the Bronchos joined the MIAA in 2012. UCO owns a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series and has won 10 in a row. Lincoln won in 1988-89 and again in 1994-95 in the only non-conference meetings the schools have competed in against one another.

Central Oklahoma heads to Jefferson City looking to rebound after an 88-80 loss at Central Missouri on Thursday night. UCO had won three in a row heading into the week. The Bronchos are averaging 72.9 points per game through 16 games played this season. UCO has a 42.0 percent shooting rate, including a 27.2 percent mark from outside the 3-point line and a 78.0 percent mark from the free-throw line. Central Oklahoma ranks among the best in the MIAA in a handful of team categories. The Bronchos lead the MIAA in assists (278), steals (174), and total rebounds (630). UCO is second in the league in all three categories on a per-game basis. Central Oklahoma also ranks second in the league in free-throw percentage (78.0).

Central Oklahoma is led by Kelsey Johnson, a fifth-year senior forward that earlier this week was named MIAA Player of the Week for the third time this season. Johnson averages 20.1 points per game, which is tied for second in the MIAA and ranks 11th among all Division II players in the country. She shoots 54.3 percent from the floor, having made 120 of 221 shots through 16 games played this season. Johnson is also 77-for-88 from the free-throw line. Her 77 makes is the most of any player in the league and the 87.5 percent mark ranks third in the MIAA and is 32nd nationally. Johnson also averages 9.9 rebounds per game, a rate that is among the best in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma's other starting forward, Alayzha Knapp, or just Lay, is second on the team in scoring behind Johnson. Knapp averages 10.8 points per game and also shoots over 50 percent. She is 73-for-139 through 16 games played this season, a 52.5 percent rate. Knapp also averages 4.6 rebounds per game.

Brooke Rayner and Aliyah Llanusa are posting near identical numbers for Central Oklahoma at the two-guard spot. Rayner is Central Oklahoma's third leading scorer at 8.2 points per game. She shoots 36.2 percent from the floor, 24.2 percent from behind the arc, and is second on the team with 16 made 3-pointers in 16 games played. Rayner is also 21-for-23 from the free-throw line this season. Llanusa is averaging 7.2 points per game, is also shooting 36.0 percent from the floor, and has made 11 3-pointers in 16 games. She is 22-for-30 from the free-throw line. The two head up UCO's league-leading defensive effort. Rayner has a team-high 37 steals and Llanusa has 34. They rank third and fourth respectively in the MIAA in total steals this season.

Karly Wadsworth lands fifth on Central Oklahoma's scoring list at 6.9 points per game. Wadsworth, a second-year freshman guard, is the team's leading shooter from outside. She is 29-for-76 from behind the 3-point line through 16 games played, a 38.2 percent mark. Wadsworth is tied for fourth in the MIAA with 29 made 3-pointers this season.

Clary Donica, 5.6 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game, gives Central a solid presence in the post coming off the bench. Caley Young, 4.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, does the same. Taylor Dement (4.4), Ginger Reece (2.3) and Avery Allen (2.2) all chip in in reserve duty as well. Allen does have a team-high 60 assists too. That mark is tied for fourth in the league.

Central Oklahoma heads women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker is in his 16th season leading the Bronchos. The former UCO baseball player has a 291-164 record leading his alma mater.

Central is scheduled to play two home games next weekend back at Hamilton Field House. UCO is scheduled to host Northwest Missouri on Thursday before welcome Missouri Western to Hamilton on 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

#22 Aliyah Llanusa: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

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

#21 Karly Wadsworth: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

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

#15 Alayzha Knapp: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#35 Ginger Reece: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#22 Aliyah Llanusa
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

#21 Karly Wadsworth
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

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

#15 Alayzha Knapp
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: F

#35 Ginger Reece
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: F