Women's Basketball 1/19/2022 11:21:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Back At Home, Hosting Northwest Missouri

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team opens a two-game homestand with Northwest Missouri Thursday night at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

UCO is also scheduled to host Missouri Western on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 11-6 overall this season and has a 7-4 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are a half-game ahead of Northwest (6-4) for sixth place in the league standings and a half-game behind Missouri Western (6-3) for fifth place.

UCO welcomes this week's opponents to Edmond looking to start a new win streak. UCO had a three-game win streak snapped last Thursday at Central Missouri but won on Saturday at Lincoln to get back into the win column.

The Bronchos are averaging 72.8 points per game this season and outscore their opponents by an average of 5.6 points per game. Defensively, Central allows 67.2 points per game.

The Bronchos lead the league in forced turnovers this season. UCO has forced 339 turnovers through 17 games, more than any other team in the league. The 19.9 turnovers per game is also a league high. Similarly, Central has more steals (185) than any other team in the MIAA and averages more per game (10.9) than any other squad.

Leading the way on that defense are a pair of feisty guards that cause problems for opponents for 40 minutes a game.

Brooke Rayner is tied for second in the MIAA with 38 steals this season and Aliyah Llanusa is fourth in the league with 34 steals. They make up the best duo in the league on defense with their 72 steals more than any other two teammates in the MIAA.

The two are also third and fourth on the UCO roster for scoring. Rayner averages 8.6 points per game and has been filling up the stat sheet in this her fourth season. The junior guard from Stillwater, Oklahoma averages 8.6 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game through 17 games played this season. She is shooting 37 percent overall, 26.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 92.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Llanusa is averaging 7.1 points per game through 17 games played in this her third season. The sophomore guard from Choctaw, Oklahoma also averages 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game to go with 2.0 steals per contest. Llanusa is shooting 36.1 percent overall, 26.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 71.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Kelsey Johnson leads UCO in scoring at 20.4 points per game, which also leads the MIAA. The senior forward who has moved to No. 6 on Central's all-time scoring list with 1,175 career points has scored 20 or more in five straight games since the calendar flipped over to 2022.

Johnson also leads UCO in rebounding at 9.8 boards per game and that mark is second in the MIAA. Johnson has posted nine double-doubles this season.

She is shooting 55.3 percent, making 130 of 235 shots this season through 17 games played, and 86.2 percent, making 81 of 94 free-throws this season. Johnson has made more shots (130) and free-throws (81) than any other player in the MIAA.

Alayzha Knapp has been a strong addition to the Broncho frontcourt this season. A forward from Tulsa, Knapp is averaging 10.9 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Both marks are second on the team. Knapp shoots 51.4 percent from the field, having hit 76 of 148 shots this season.

Karly Wadsworth is scoring 6.5 points per game and most of her production comes from being the outside scoring threat for the Bronchos. Wadsworth has made 29 threes in 17 games played, leading the team in that area. She's 29-for-79 overall, a 36.7 percent rate.

Jaci Littell, who averages 4.8 points per game, is third on the team with 12 made 3-pointers and is also third on the squad with 27 made free-throws. She makes 84.4 percent from the free-throw line. Littell also averages 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Clary Donica and Caley Young provide a solid backup post presence to spell Johnson and Knapp. Donica is averaging 5.4 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Young adds 4.4 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game, giving the Bronchos a consistent option in the paint throughout the game.

Taylor Dement (3.8), Avery Allen (2.4) and Ginger Reece (2.3) all chip in for the Bronchos as well. Dement has only played in six games this season coming back from an injury. She also averages one steal per game. Allen leads the team with 61 assists, a 3.6 per game mark that ranks sixth in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma and Northwest Missouri have played 13 times on the basketball court and UCO broke a 6-6 tie with a win last season at Northwest. The Bronchos lead 7-6 in what has been a streaky series. NWMSU won the first three meetings before Central won the next six. Northwest won three in a row again before last season's Broncho victory.

Northwest Missouri averages 60.3 points per game this season and allows on average 54.9 per contest. The Bearcats are led by Mallory McConkey, who averages 11.0 points per game. Molly Hartnett averages 10.5 points per game and has hit 18 3-pointers. Peyton Kelderman leads the team with 30 makes from behind the arc and Jayna Green, who averages 3.8 points per game, is the team's leading rebounder at 5.6 per game. McConkey is second in rebounds at 4.1 per outing.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to wrap up a two-game homestand Saturday afternoon with a matchup against Missouri Western. The Bronchos will be back on the road next week, visiting Emporia State and Washburn.

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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

#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

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

#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