Women's Basketball 2/28/2022 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Turns To Postseason Wednesday

Bronchos Meet Emporia State In Kansas City For 2022 MIAA Basketball Championship Presented by Citizen's Bank & Trust

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team turns its attention to the postseason this week, which begins Wednesday at Municipal Auditorium.

The Bronchos qualified for the 2022 MIAA Basketball Championship presented by Citizen's Bank & Trust and will enter this year's tournament as the No. 7 seed following a 16-12 regular season. UCO posted a 12-10 record in the MIAA. Emporia State went 15-13 this season and 10-12 in league play and the Lady Hornets will be the No. 10 seed in the championship.

Tipoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:15 p.m.

This is the ninth consecutive MIAA postseason appearance for the Bronchos. UCO joined the league 10 years ago. Central aims to improve its 7-8 all-time record in the tourney.

Central will tipoff against Emporia for the third time this season and the fifth time tournament history. UCO did sweep the regular season series against the Lady Hornets, winning 74-72 in Edmond in December before winning 74-71 in Emporia in January. This will be the fifth meeting between the two schools in the MIAA tournament and Central is 0-4 in those contests, including in the quarterfinals last season. The teams also met in UCO's only championship game appearance in 2017.

UCO is averaging 73.5 points per game this season and outscore their opponents by an average of 4.4 points per game. The Bronchos led the league in forced turnovers (521) this season. Similarly, Central has more steals (299) than any other team in the MIAA.

Kelsey Johnson led Central Oklahoma through and through this season and the senior forward will again this week. Johnson averaged a league high 21.3 points per game and also averaged 9.5 rebounds per game, the second-best mark in the MIAA. She led the league in field-goal percentage (59.4) as well. Johnson, named MIAA Player of the Week four times this season, moved all the way up to No. 3 on Central's all-time scoring list with 1,426 points. She scored 30 five times this season.

Alayzha Knapp, or Lay, is Central's second leading scorer at 10.2 points per game. Knapp shoots 46.7 percent overall and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. She adds 4.8 rebounds per game.

Brooke Rayner is leading the guard play for Central on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Rayner averages 10.0 points per game, 2.9 assists per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 2.2 steals per game. She shoots 38.8 percent overall and has made a team-high 37 3-pointers. Rayner is 45-for-52 from the free-throw line through 28 games played.

Aliyah Llanusa joins Rayner in leading the guard play for the Bronchos. She averages 7.4 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game. She is a 37.6 percent shooter overall, has 19 made 3-pointers, and is a 73.4 percent free-throw shooter. Rayner's 62 steals are the second most in the MIAA and Llanusa is third with 58 steals.

Caley Young adds another post presence for the Bronchos. The second-year freshman is providing options any time she's on the floor. Young averages 5.2 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Karly Wadsworth adds 4.9 points per game for the Broncho offense. Most of her work is done outside the 3-point line. The second-year freshman guard has 37 made 3-pointers through 27 games played. She is 35-for-99, a 35.4 percent mark. She ranks ninth in the league in made threes.

Clary Donica is averaging 4.2 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game, giving the Bronchos four strong post options. Jaci Littell chips in with 4.0 points per game. She has 15 made 3-pointers and 42 made free-throws. Taylor Dement (3.8) and Avery Allen (2.9) add to the offense. Allen as a team-high 114 assists. She ranks fourth in the MIAA in total assists and in assists per game (4.2).

Central Oklahoma heads women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker is in his 16th season leading the Bronchos. The former UCO baseball player has a 297-170 record leading his alma mater.

Central Oklahoma hopes to continue its season and would do so Thursday against the No. 2 seed Fort Hays State Tigers at 2:15 p.m. if the Bronchos can extend play.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

#3 Clary Donica: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#33 Kelsey Johnson: F; 6' 3"; Senior

#13 Jaci Littell: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

#4 Taylor Dement: G; 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#1 Avery Allen
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#3 Clary Donica
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#33 Kelsey Johnson
: 6' 3"; Senior
: F

#13 Jaci Littell
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

#4 Taylor Dement
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

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

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

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