Women's Basketball 11/16/2022 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Opens New Season Friday

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma women's basketball begins a new era in 2022-23 with Emma Andrews taking over as the fifth head coach of the 50-plus year-old program.

Andrews was hired in May and inherited 10 returning letter winners and a true freshman. She's added five transfers and has the Bronchos ready to run this winter.

"We're figuring each other out and learning a lot, and we're ready to start competing live to see where we are," Andrews said. "We've had some scrimmages, but we're looking forward to playing for real and seeing what we can do."

Central Oklahoma was scheduled to open the new season Friday, Nov. 11 in North Dakota as part of the Central Region Challenge at the University of Mary. The Bronchos though had to cancel games against the host Marauders and Northwestern Oklahoma State. So now Central Oklahoma will open with Missouri S&T and Oklahoma Christian in the UCO Classic. MIAA counterpart Newman will also play OC Friday and S&T Saturday during the Classic at Hamilton.

Andrews hails from Australia and played college ball at Fresno State, where she began her coaching career. She spent the last six years as head coach of Cameron and now looks to continue the success Central Oklahoma has had in recent years. She'll look to a senior veteran and some experienced returners to bring in the newcomers and keep UCO contending in the MIAA.

UCO has 10 returning hoopsters led by fifth-year senior Brooke Rayner. The two-time All-MIAA defensive team selection is taking her eligibility extension after the pandemic and looks to end her time with the continued improvement she's made every year of her career. Rayner has a well-rounded game with 780 career points, 112 career made 3-pointers, and 156 career steals. The latter is the fifth-most by one player in school history.

A quartet of juniors are all returning letter winners and all contribute in different areas for the Bronchos.

Aliyah Llanusa and Tayler Factor have been with the program for three years. Llanusa, like Rayner, is fierce on defense and is a candidate for all-defense too. The perimeter player has 98 career steals in 79 career games, a 1.2 per game average, but is also a threat to score. She jumped from 2.8 points per game her first two seasons before posting 7.4 per last year. Llanusa increased her rebound totals from 49 and 34 her first two seasons up to 102 last year.

Factor had two strong years before sitting out last winter with an injury. She played in 47 of 51 games and contributed with good defense and perimeter shooting. Factor is a 45.7 percent shooter and hits 30.8 percent of her 3-point attempts. She's been active after the shot too with 63 rebounds. Defensively, she swiped 10 balls as a freshman and had 21 steals her sophomore year.

Alayzha Knapp and Ginger Reece transferred to UCO last season and both saw regular minutes. Knapp was a key post presence that scored 10.1 points and pulled down 4.7 rebounds per game. She also shot 46 percent from the floor, all on two-point field-goal attempts, with 120 made baskets. Reece has a 3-point threat and long defense in both a guard and forward role. She gave UCO depth on offense with 2.6 points per game, helped out with 1.6 boards per game, and also contribute 22 steals and five blocks.

Macy McClendon leads a big sophomore group as a fourth-year veteran. She redshirted before the pandemic and got another year during it. The post player from Kansas gives UCO depth in the front court.

Karly Wadsworth, Caley Young and Megan McClendon make up a trio of third-year sophomores with a lot of experience. Wadsworth is one of the best shooters in the MIAA and has 47 made 3-pointers in 49 career games. She's a 32.9 percent 3-pointer shooter who will look to significantly increase her three attempts per game average this season.

Young is a strong post player with a great jump shot. She's played in 41 of 53 games the last two seasons and is a career 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. With a 47.1 percent mark on field goals, the versatile threat is also big on defense with 10 blocks and 34 steals.

The young McClendon can shoot from all over the floor too. Lexi Foreman played the first month of her freshman season before stepping away. The guard can shoot and plays with a high motor on defense.

Ava Greer is the only freshman on the roster, but the youngster can score in the post and is long on defense and will look to find playing time early on.

Then there are the transfers.

River Romine and Aspen Williston join Rayner as seniors on the squad.

Romine has played Junior College, Division II, and NCCAA basketball and the sharp shooter is looking to help UCO's offensive output from behind the arc, and finish her career strong. She started in JUCO and played 48 games in two years, making 72 threes during that time. She played one year at Oklahoma Baptist and last season at Dallas Christian, and brings 110 career made 3-pointers with her to UCO.

Williston played two years at Oklahoma and two more at South Dakota and the towering lefty is ready to finish strong at Central Oklahoma. She adds depth in the post and will help keep offenses out of the lane.

A trio of sophomores arrive on campus this winter ready to find a role and start contributing on the floor. Eliana Bravington played two freshman seasons at California Baptist and joins Williston near the 6-foot-4 range that will help UCO in the post. Bravington was a key reserve, playing in two dozen games at CBU. She averaged 3.0 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game in her time there.

Kassie Boorer and Courtnee Cash both came from Cameron after playing for Andrews there. Boorer joins the likes of Bravington, as well Wadsworth, Young and Megan McClendon, as a third-year sophomore. She's played two freshman seasons as a post that can score inside and out and helps with a long coverage on defense. Boorer scored 4.2 points and pulled down two rebounds per game in 23 outings last season after playing 15 games during true freshman season.

Cash, like Foreman, has played one season and she looks to provide depth to the guard position, providing strong relief with a well-rounded game. Cash played 10 minutes per game as a true freshman, giving Andrews help in depth. She averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Tayler Factor: F; 5' 9"; Junior

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

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

#2 Macy McClendon: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#0 Megan McClendon: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

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

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

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

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

#31 Lexi Foreman: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#20 Tayler Factor
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

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

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

#2 Macy McClendon
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F

#0 Megan McClendon
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

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

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

#31 Lexi Foreman
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G