Women's Basketball 1/2/2022 1:37:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Opens New Year At Home

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team is scheduled to make its return to the court Monday evening with an MIAA matchup against Newman. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 7-5 overall this season and the Bronchos are 3-3 in league play. UCO has not played since Dec. 19.

"It'll be good to get back out there," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "We had a good week of practice after taking some time off and I think the girls are ready to show what kind of team we can be. We had some injuries in the first semester too that might be behind us so that'll be a good help too."

Central opens the new year averaging 72.1 points per game while allowing 68.4 points from the opposition. UCO shoots 41.6 percent overall and 26.9 percent from behind the 3-point line. The Bronchos average 5.4 made 3-pointers per game. Central also shoots 77.7 percent from the free-throw line, averaging 14.5 makes from the stripe per contest.

Kelsey Johnson leads Central in several categories, including points and rebounds. Johnson is averaging 18.9 points per game through 12 games this season. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her UCO career earlier this season.

Johnson, who averages a team-high 29.3 minutes per game and shoots 53.2 percent from the field, also leads the team in rebounding at 10.3 per contest.

Alayzha Knapp is also averaging double figures for the Bronchos on offense. The forward is second on the team at 11.3 points per game and is also third on the team at 4.7 rebounds per game. Knapp shoots 52.3 percent overall.

Johnson (69) and Knapp (31) are the team's leaders in free-throw attempts with the two combining for 100 shots from the line in 12 games.

Brooke Rayner, Karly Wadsworth and Aliyah Llanusa all are averaging seven points per game in helping carry the load for the Broncho offense.

Rayner averages 7.8 points per game to go with 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. She is also a perfect 17-for-17 from the free-throw line in 12 games.

Wadsworth is averaging 7.3 points per game and is the team's leader from outside. Wadsworth is 23-for-58 (39.7 percent) from behind the 3-point line.

Llanusa averages 7.0 points per game in 23.3 minutes per game. She is among the team leaders in free-throws too, going 20-for-26 from the line. She averages 2.0 steals per game as well, joining Rayner for a fierce defensive duo in the backcourt.

Clary Donica averages 5.8 points per game and is second on the team averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. Jaci Littell is averaging 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. She is second on the team with 21 makes from the free-throw line, shooting 80.8 percent there.

UCO and Newman do not have a long history. The Bronchos are 6-0 all-time against the Jets of Wichita, Kansas. UCO's largest margin of victory in school history came against then NAIA Newman in 1996. Central won 106-35 (71 points).

Newman is just 2-10 this season. The Jets are 0-6 in MIAA play and on a six-game losing streak with all those contests league meetings. Newman picked up two wins against NAIA schools in November.

Newman is averaging 58.5 points per game and allowing 68.4. The Jets shoot on average 39.7 from the field overall, 25.7 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 71.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Tiffany Dortland leads Newman with 9.7 points per game and is fourth in rebounding at 4.3 boards per game. Britney Ho is averaging 9.3 points per game and is third with 4.4 boards per game. Laura Bello averages 9.0 points and is second at 4.5 boards per game. Faith Mason-Vestal, who averages 8.6 points per game, leads the team with 5.4 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma has three home MIAA games this week beginning with Monday's contest. The Bronchos will also welcome longtime rival Northeastern State to Edmond on Thursday evening before hosting Rogers State in Edmond on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

#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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#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

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

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