Bronchos Host SNU Saturday

Unbeaten Central Oklahoma closes out a season-opening four-game homestand Saturday when the Bronchos host near-by rival Southern Nazarene.

Tip-off at Hamilton Field House is 1:30 p.m.

UCO is 3-0 on the young season, while the Crimson Storm from Bethany are 2-3.

"SNU has lost a couple of tough games, but we know how good a team they are," head coach Emma Andrews said. "They're really strong defensively and it will certainly be a big test for us. We'll have to play a lot better than we have to this point if we want to stay in the game."

It's the last non-conference game for the Bronchos, who open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play next week with games at Central Missouri and Lincoln.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO moved to 3-0 Tuesday with a 72-65 victory over Cameron. The Bronchos never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 23 before having to fend off CU's fourth-quarter rally.

Junior Aliyah Llanusa led the way, setting career highs for points (19) and rebounds (11) while adding four steals and three assists in 37 minutes of action.

UCO is averaging 83.0 points a game in the early going and has three players in double figures.

Junior Alayzha Knapp and senior Brooke Rayner are both averaging 20.0 points a game, while sophomore Karly Wadsworth is at 11.3.

Knapp is shooting 53.3 percent from the field in addition to averaging 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. Rayner has made a team-high eight 3-pointers while adding 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.

Llanusa is the team's leading rebounder at 7.3 boards a game. She's also averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals.

ABOUT THE CRIMSON STORM: Southern Nazarene has lost two games by two points each in its 2-3 start. The Crimson Storm of the Great American Conference are coming off a 20-10 season.

SNU is averaging 58.4 points a game while giving up just 55.8.

Cassandra Awatt, a first-team All-GAC performer last year, leads the team with a 16.2 scoring average to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Georgia Adams chips in 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.

ABOUT THE SERIES: UCO owns an 18-11 lead in a series that started in 1975. The Crimson Storm have won the last two meetings, including a 69-53 win last year in Bethany.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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