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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Aliyah Llanusa
71
Winner Mo. Southern St. MSSU 22-5,19-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
68
Central Okla. CentOK 16-12,12-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Mo. Southern St. MSSU
22-5,19-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
71
Final
68
Central Okla. CentOK
16-12,12-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mo. Southern St. MSSU 17 18 21 15 71
Central Okla. CentOK 13 30 14 11 68

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Drops Home Finale

EDMOND – Karly Wadsworth's deep 3-pointer from the right wing tied the game with 23.1 seconds left, but unfortunately for Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Missouri Southern hit a three of their own with 3.0 seconds left and took a 71-68 victory at Hamilton Field House.
 
Central Oklahoma wrapped up the 2021-22 regular season with a 16-12 overall record and a 12-10 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos will advance to the postseason. Central has earned the No. 7 seed in the 2022 MIAA Basketball Championships scheduled for March 2-6 in Kansas City. UCO will play 10th-seeded Emporia State in the opening round on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m.
 
"You hate to go into the playoffs on a loss like that," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "But we had our chances and we didn't get it done. We just need to forget about today and start focusing on conference and getting one game at a time there next week."
 
Central Oklahoma trailed 68-65 with 4:43 to play when MSSU got a layup to take the 3-point lead. There were no baskets of any kind by either team for the next four minutes and 20 seconds. That's when Wadsworth knocked down her shot with 23.1 to play. It was her first basket of the game and she got it off an assist from Avery Allen.
 
After the Southern timeout, Lion freshman Lacy Stokes dribbled near halfcourt for about 15 seconds before making a couple of moves at the top of the key. She got a screen from her post and executed a little stepback jumper to hit the game-winner.
 
Taylor Dement got the ball inbounds with 3.0 seconds left as UCO didn't have any timeouts left. She made it across halfcourt but didn't get a shot off as time expired.
 
Missouri Southern claimed the MIAA regular season title following the win.
 
Kelsey Johnson led UCO with 18 points and eight rebounds. She was 8-for-18 from the floor, 0-for-1 from outside the arc, and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line. She also had one assist and one steal.
 
Brooke Rayner added 12 points on 3 of 9 shooting, including 2-for-4 from behind the 3-point line. Rayner was also 4-for-5 from the free-throw line, had six rebounds and three assists, and one steal.
 
Aliyah Llanusa added 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting. She made one free-throw, had four boards and two assists, and also had one steal.
 
Alayzha Knapp, eight points and seven rebounds, and Allen, three points and six assists, rounded out the starters for the Bronchos.
 
UCO got 16 points off the bench Saturday. Caley Young's six led the way. Ginger Reece had four, Wadsworth had her three, Clary Donica scored two, and Dement had one point.
 
Central Oklahoma shot 27-for-69 from the floor, a 39.1 percent mark. The Bronchos were 4-for-16 on shots from behind the 3-point line and 10-for-13 on shots from the free-throw line.
 
UCO trailed early in what was a sluggish first quarter for both teams. The Bronchos shot 5 of 18 in the first 10 minutes and trailed 17-13.
 
But Central rallied with a huge second quarter. The Bronchos were 11 of 16 in the frame and scored 30 to take a 43-35 lead into halftime.
 
Central went back to missing the target in the third quarter however, shooting 7 of 20 in the frame, and then made just four baskets in the final 10 minutes, shooting 26 percent during that time.
 
Central Oklahoma is heading to the postseason. The Bronchos will play Emporia State for the third time this season next week. UCO did win the first two meetings, picking up a 74-72 win in Edmond in December before going on the road to get a 74-71 win in Emporia in January.
 
 
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