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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Brooke Rayner
46
Neb.-Kearney UNK 16-5,11-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
56
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 13-9,9-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Neb.-Kearney UNK
16-5,11-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
46
Final
56
Central Okla. CentOK
13-9,9-7 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 9 13 5 19 46
Central Okla. CentOK 11 13 22 10 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Upends Nebraska Kearney

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team beat Nebraska Kearney 56-46 Thursday evening at Hamilton Field House.
 
Central Oklahoma is now 13-9 after the win and has a 9-7 record in the MIAA.
 
"That was a tough game in the first half," UCO head women's basketball coach Guy Hardaker said. "Both teams just couldn't get anything going. I thought we played well on defense in the first half, but we couldn't hit a shot. Then we finally made some to get that lead. I'm proud of the team for the way they came out in the third quarter, that was big for us."
 
Brooke Rayner led UCO with 17 points and six rebounds. She was 5-for-9 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Alayzha Knapp also had 16 points and four rebounds. She was 6-for-7 from the floor and made four free-throws.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start Thursday. The two schools combined to go 7-for-31 in the first half.
 
UCO did build a five-point lead midway through the first quarter, going ahead 10-5 thanks to a personal 5-0 run from Ginger Reece. The sophomore guard hit a step-back jumper and then banked in a 3-pointer to put the Bronchos ahead. Central led 11-9 at the end of the first quarter.
 
UCO held a nine-point lead midway through the second quarter. The Bronchos opened the quarter on an 11-2 run, getting five points in the stretch from Knapp. Central went 4-for-6 during the five-plus minute run. But UCO did go cold after that.
 
After Kelsey Johnson hit a turnaround jumper, Knapp hit two free-throws to close out the 11-2 run. Rayner also hit two free-throws down the stretch, but UCO didn't make a field goal after Johnson's bucket with 5:28 to play.
 
Nebraska Kearney ended the half on a big run and pulled to within two points at halftime, 24-22. UCO came out in the second half and it was a different ball game.
 
Central opened the half on a 10-0 run. Knapp made a layup, Johnson followed with one, then Rayner did, then Knapp did again, then Rayner did again. UCO forced turnovers on each of the first four possessions by Kearney in the second half and the Bronchos soon made it 13-1 run.
 
Central outscored UNK 22-5 in the third quarter. Kearney outscored the Bronchos 19-10 in the final quarter but UCO hung on for the win.
 
Caley Young added six points off the bench and Reece scored five. Taylor Dement (three) and Jaci Littell (two) also helped out for Central's 16 bench points.
 
Avery Allen had three points and five assists.
 
Johnson, who leads the country in scoring, posted four points and eight rebounds Thurdsay night. It's the first time this season she didn't score double figures. She went 2-for-6 from the floor and didn't get any free-throws.
 
Central Oklahoma is home all weekend. The Bronchos will finish off a short two-game homestand Saturday against Fort Hays State.
 
 
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