Women's Basketball 12/6/2023 7:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Visits Missouri Southern

Bronchos Look For Win Streak In MIAA Matchup With Lions In Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. – Central Oklahoma plays its first road MIAA games this weekend, beginning with Missouri Southern Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

UCO, 2-6 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA, takes on the Lions, 3-4 overall and 0-2 in league play, Thursday night. The Bronchos will take on Pittsburg State (6-1, 1-1) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Gorillas of Pittsburg, Kansas are hosting Newman Thursday night.

Central Oklahoma is averaging 65.3 points per game this season through eight games played. The Bronchos shoot 38.0 percent overall and 30.9 percent from behind the 3-point line with an average of 6.4 makes per game from deep. UCO also shoots 72.1 percent from the free-throw line with an average of 11.6 makes per game from the stripe.

Reagan Fox leads the team and is the only Broncho averaging double figures this season. The sophomore from Blanchard, who transferred to UCO from Abilene Christian this year, is averaging 10.1 points per game this season. Fox shoots 35.9 percent overall and is second on the team with 15 made 3-pointers. She shoots 44.1 percent from behind the arc. Fox also leads the Bronchos in free-throws made (20) and attempted (23) and has a stout 87.0 percent rate from the line.

Karly Wadsworth is averaging 9.9 points per game. The fourth-year junior from Oologah has a team-high 28 made field goals and leads the Bronchos with 17 made 3-pointers. Wadsworth shoots 40.0 percent overall and 36.2 percent from behind the arc. She also leads the team with 14 steals on the defensive end.

Natalie Stice, who led UCO with 21 points the last time out, is averaging 7.6 points per game this season. The sixth-year senior from Texas, who transferred from Midwestern State this year, has 20 made shots in eight games with 10 made 3-pointers. Stice is second to Wadsworth with 12 steals this season and is one of seven Bronchos averaging more than 1.0 steals per game.

Alena Wilson is Central's leading rebounder at 5.9 boards per game. The fourth-year junior and Cameron transfer out of Dallas, Texas is averaging 6.8 points per game this season. Wilson is shooting 40 percent this season and she third on the squad averaging 1.3 per game.

UCO has three averaging five points per game. Aspen Williston is at 5.7 and Caley Young and Alexis Lewis both average an even 5.0 points per game. The trio of forwards are also key on the boards, averaging 8.4 combined rebounds per game. Young, a fourth-year junior from Jones, is averaging 1.1 steals per game. Lewis, a junior from Sapulpa and a Seminole State transfer, is second on the team with 12 made free-throws.

Central guards Aliyah Llanusa (1.3) and Gracee Miller (1.1) also average more than one steal per game. Llanusa, a fifth-year senior from Choctaw, is averaging 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 points per game this season. Miller, a true freshman from Comanche, averages 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

LaKysia Johnson, a junior from Altus that transferred from Northern Oklahoma this year, is averaging 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Talia Pogi (2.3) and Lexi Foreman (1.6) chip in on the scoring in the regular rotation. Alexis Martin (1.0) and Tayler Factor (0.4) also have added to the totals on the early season.

Missouri Southern is averaging 68.3 points per game through seven games played this season. The Lions shoot 38.4 percent overall and 29.8 percent from behind the 3-point line with an average of 4.4 makes from deep per game. MSSU also shoots 77.1 percent from the free-throw line and averages 15.9 makes per game from the stripe.

Southern has three players averaging double figures and three more averaging nine points per game. But the Lions only get 8.9 points from the rest of their roster. Brandi Hudson (12.6), Kryslyn Jones (11.3), and Mia Topping (10.0) lead the way. Ryan Franklin (9.7), Maggie Sockey (9.3), and Kaitlin Hunnicutt (9.1) are also regular contributors. Franklin leads the team with 7.0 rebounds per game and Hudson averages 5.6 boards per game.

Missouri Southern leads the all-time series against Central Oklahoma, 19-15. Notably in the series, the Lions have a four-game lead and welcome the Bronchos to Joplin on Thursday night with a five-game win streak.

UCO visits Pitt State Saturday afternoon and will return home with an extended break before their next two. Central is hosting Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State next, but the usual Thursday-Saturday schedule has been altered due to commencement at Hamilton Field House. Central Oklahoma will host UNK Monday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. and Fort Hays State Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Tayler Factor: F; 5' 9"; Senior

#31 Lexi Foreman: G; 5' 9"; Junior

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

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

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

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

#3 LaKysia Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#4 Natalie Stice: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#5 Reagan Fox: F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#13 Gracee Miller: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#20 Tayler Factor
: 5' 9"; Senior
: F

#31 Lexi Foreman
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

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

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

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

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

#3 LaKysia Johnson
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#4 Natalie Stice
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#5 Reagan Fox
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: F

#13 Gracee Miller
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G