Women's Basketball 1/21/2022 4:32:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Missouri Western

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team wraps up a two-game homestand against Missouri Western Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 11-7 overall this season and has a 7-5 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are just behind of Western for fifth place in the league standings.

UCO is averaging 72.6 points per game this season and outscore their opponents by an average of 4.8 points per game. Defensively, Central allows 67.8 points per game. The Bronchos lead the league in forced turnovers this season. UCO has forced 356 turnovers through 18 games, more than any other team in the league. The 19.8 turnovers per game is also a league high. Similarly, Central has more steals (195) than any other team in the MIAA and averages more per game (10.8) than any other squad.

Kelsey Johnson leads UCO in scoring at 20.9 points per game, which also leads the MIAA. The senior forward who has moved to No. 5 on Central's all-time scoring list with 1,205 career points has scored 20 or more in six straight games since the calendar flipped over to 2022.

Johnson also leads UCO in rebounding at 9.4 boards per game and that mark is second in the MIAA. Johnson has posted nine double-doubles this season. She is shooting 55.9 percent, making 142 of 254 shots this season through 18 games played, and 86.1 percent, making 87 of 101 free-throws this season. Johnson has made more shots (142) and free-throws (87) 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 11.0 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. Both marks are second on the team. Knapp shoots an even 50.0 percent from the field, having hit 80 of 160 shots this season.

Brooke Rayner is tied for second in the MIAA with 42 steals this season and Aliyah Llanusa is fourth in the league with 35 steals. They make up the best duo in the league on defense with their 77 steals more than any other two teammates in the MIAA.

Rayner averages 8.5 points per game and has been filling up the stat sheet in this her fourth season. The junior guard adds 3.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game through 18 games played this season. She is shooting 37.2 percent overall, 26.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Llanusa is averaging 6.9 points per game through 18 games played in this her third season. The sophomore guard also averages 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to go with 1.9 steals per contest. Llanusa is shooting 35.4 percent overall, 27.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 71.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Karly Wadsworth is scoring 6.2 points per game and most of her production comes from being the outside scoring threat for the Bronchos. Wadsworth has made 29 threes in 18 games played, leading the team in that area. She's 29-for-80 overall, a 36.3 percent rate.

Clary Donica is averaging 5.1 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game, continuing a strong role as a backup post. She is a steady shot, hitting 42.9 percent of her shots. Caley Young, like Donica, gives UCO a strong presence in the paint with the second unit. Young averages 4.5 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Jaci Littell (4.7), Taylor Dement (3.7), Avery Allen (2.2) and Ginger Reece (2.1) all chip in for the Bronchos as well. Littell helps a lot with an 86.1 percent rate from the free-throw line. She is 31-for-36 there. Dement has only played in seven 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 is looking to continue a win streak against Missouri Western as the Bronchos close the gap on the all-time series. Western owns a 10-6 advantage. The teams played twice in the 1980s and twice in the early 2000s before becoming regular fixtures since UCO joined the MIAA in 2012. Central has won the last three meetings.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to hit the road next week. The Bronchos are scheduled to visit Emporia State on Wednesday and Washburn on Saturday before returning home for matchups with Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State back in Edmond on the first weekend in February.

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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