Women's Basketball 1/19/2023 5:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Welcomes Newman Saturday

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma resumes MIAA play Saturday afternoon with the Bronchos hosting Newman at 1:30 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.

Central Oklahoma is 6-10 overall this season and 3-9 in league play. The Newman Jets of Wichita, Kansas are also 6-10 overall and 3-8 in the MIAA.

"We've seen a theme all year of needing to play a full four quarters and finish strong in the games we've won and this weekend is no different" UCO first year head women's coach Emma Andrews said. "We have a lot of talent and when it comes together, we're a really good team. We just need to be more consistent."

Central Oklahoma had won two of three before a pair of setbacks last week. The only game on the schedule for the Bronchos this week is Saturday afternoon's league contest. UCO has an 8-0 series lead against Newman.

The Bronchos welcome Newman to Hamilton Field House averaging 69.7 points per game this season. The Bronchos shoot 40.1 percent overall, 31.5 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 71.7 percent from the free-throw line. UCO averages 6.6 made 3-pointers per game and 12.2 made free-throws per game.

Leading the way for the Bronchos are a trio of double-digit scorers and two others that aren't far off from that mark.

Alayzha Knapp leads the team at 14.1 points per game and is second on the squad in rebounding at 4.7 boards per game. Knapp shoots 39.7 percent overall, has 14 made 3-pointers in 16 games, and is a 75.4 percent free-throw shooter. She is also second on the team in blocked shots with 16 in 15 games played. Her 1.1 blocks per game ranks seventh in the MIAA.

Karly Wadsworth is also averaging double figures this season, scoring 13.4 points per game. The third-year sophomore is shooting 38.8 percent overall, 31.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 84.2 percent from the free-throw line. Wadsworth leads the team with 36 made 3-pointers in 16 games played, which ranks fourth in the MIAA. She also leads the team with 34 steals and ranks ninth in the league there.

Brooke Rayner is scoring 11.2 points per game to give UCO three in double figures. She shoots 36.4 percent overall, 31.9 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. Rayner is second on the team with 23 made 3-pointers, second on the team with a 4.2 rebounds per game average and is also second on the team with 31 total steals. She leads the team with 61 assists and ranks sixth in the MIAA at 3.8 assists per game.

Aliyah Llanusa adds 9.3 points per game and adds a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Llanusa is shooting 40.8 percent overall, 40.7 percent from behind the 3-point line, and an even 70 percent from the free-throw line. She also is third on the team with 26 steals and second on the team with 48 assists. Llanusa ranks 14th in assists and 15th in steals in the MIAA.

Aspen Williston rounds out the top five handling the bulk of the scoring for UCO. The senior forward is averaging 8.3 points per game this season to go with 4.1 rebounds per contest. She leads the team with 29 blocked shots and ranks third in the MIAA with 1.8 blocks per game. Williston shoots a team-best 56.2 percent overall.

Newman comes to Edmond having won two of three before dropping both of its contests last week. The Jets are averaging 62.1 points per game this season and allowing 68.4 per outing. Newman shoots an even 40 percent overall, 35.7 percent from behind the 3-point line with an average of 6.7 makes per game, and 69.1 percent from the free-throw line with an average of 10.6 makes per game.

Britney Ho leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season. Carissa Beck (8.2), Lauryn Dubbert (7.8) and Maddie Spagnola (7.6) also carry the load on offense.

Central Oklahoma has 10 games left this season, with the Bronchos set to play five at home, including Saturday, and five on the road. UCO visits Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next weekend before welcoming Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State to Edmond in two weeks.

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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

#30 Aspen Williston: F; 6' 4"; Senior

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

#30 Aspen Williston
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F