Women's Basketball 11/30/2022 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hits The Road To Open League Play

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Oklahoma opens MIAA play Thursday when the Bronchos take on the Central Missouri Jennies in what also will be the first road game of the 2022-23 season for UCO.

UCO is 3-1 through two weeks of play. The Bronchos started the new year with three consecutive wins before suffering a setback this past Saturday.

UCM, which is receiving votes in the WBCA's national rankings and ranked No. 23 in the country in this week's D2SIDA poll, has a 3-0 record. The Jennies beat Northern State and MSU-Moorhead to open the season before winning against Evangel two weeks ago.

UCM has not played since Nov. 16, which was two days before UCO's first game of the season.

"Central Missouri is going to be a good test for us," first-year UCO head women's basketball coach Emma Andrews said. "They're a solid team and we're going to have to work hard up there. We need to be focused on what we do, take care of the basketball, and stay out of foul trouble."

Central Oklahoma is averaging 78.3 points per game this season through four games played. The Bronchos are shooting 43.2 percent from the floor overall, 28.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 70.9 percent from the free-throw line.

UCO averages 6.8 made threes per game and 14 made free-throws per game.

The Bronchos are led by four players averaging double figures this season.

Brooke Rayner is averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game. She is shooting 46.3 percent overall, 42.9 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line. Rayner also averages 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Alayzha Knapp is averaging 15.8 points per game to go with 5.0 rebounds per game. She also averages 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Knapp is shooting 44.6 percent overall, 50 percent from three, and 62.5 percent from the stripe.

Aliyah Llanusa adds 11.3 points per game and is averaging a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. She also posts 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game and is shooting 43.2 percent overall and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Karly Wadsworth is the third Broncho averaging double figures at 11.0 points per game. She adds a team-high 2.8 steals per game.

In three games this season, Central Missouri is averaging 82.0 points per game. The Jennies shoot 50.5 percent from the floor overall, 31.1 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 58.1 percent from the free-throw line.

UCM is led by Brooke Littrell, who is averaging 19.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Olivia Nelson, 14.3 points and 4.0 assists, and Lauren Frost, 11.7 points and a team-high 5.3 assists per game, also lead the attack.

Kade Hackerott averages a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma will continue on a short road trip following Thursday night's contest. UCO is scheduled to play at Lincoln Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Bronchos will return to Edmond after that and have two homes games on the docket next week. Central Oklahoma hosts No. 5 Missouri Southern Thursday, Dec. 8 and Pittsburg State on Saturday, Dec. 11.

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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