Women's Basketball 12/29/2022 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Returns From Break, Hosts Washburn

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma returns from its holiday break for a New Year's Eve MIAA showdown Saturday afternoon against Washburn. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. from Hamilton Field House.

Central Oklahoma is 4-6 overall this season and has a 1-5 record in the MIAA, with each of those losses coming to the top five teams in the league. Washburn is 4-5 on the season and 1-3 in the MIAA. The Ichabods of Topeka, Kansas are scheduled to play Bethany College Thursday night.

"We had a tough few weeks before the break and we're hoping the break came at the right time," first-year UCO women's basketball head coach Emma Andrews said. "We played some really good teams, and I think we played really well against them. But we haven't been able to play a good four quarters yet and we need to start that this weekend."

UCO is averaging 71.1 points per game through 10 games played this season. The Bronchos shoot 40.2 percent overall, 32.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 72.9 percent from the free-throw line. UCO averages an even seven made 3-pointers per game and 12.1 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma is allowing 75.8 points per game with opponents shooting 41.8 percent overall, 29.4 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. UCO concedes 5.8 made threes per game and 17.0 made free-throws per game.

A quartet of Bronchos have led the offense to this point. Alayzha Knapp is the leading scorer at 15.9 points per game while Karly Wadsworth (12.8), Brooke Rayner (11.8), and Aliyah Llanusa (10.6) all average double figures as well.

Knapp is shooting 43.2 percent from the floor and adds 4.6 rebounds per game. Wadsworth shoots 38.5 percent and is the team leader with 23 made 3-pointers and a 2.3 steals per game average in 10 games.

Rayner is shooting 39.3 percent overall and averages 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. Llanusa shoots 42.7 percent and leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game. She also averages 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Washburn comes to Edmond averaging 53.5 points per game while shooting 36.9 percent overall. The Ichabods shoot 31.1 percent from behind the 3-point line and 59.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Aubree Dewey leads the team at 10.9 points per game while Natalia Figueroa averages 9.0 and Mackenzie Gamble averages 7.7 per contest. Emma Chapman (6.9 PPG) and Macy Doebele (6.1 PPG) both lead the team at 5.6 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma wraps up the 2022 side of the 2022-23 season Saturday afternoon against Washburn. The Bronchos begin the 2023 side Monday night with another home contest against Emporia State at 5:30 p.m.

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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