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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Team
66
Central Okla. CentOK 10-16,7-15 Mid-America Intercollegiate
72
Winner Newman Newman 10-17,7-15 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Central Okla. CentOK
10-16,7-15 Mid-America Intercollegiate
66
Final
72
Newman Newman
10-17,7-15 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Okla. CentOK 9 17 18 22 66
Newman Newman 17 12 18 25 72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

UCO Falls In Finale, Turns To Postseason

WICHITA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma lost 72-66 to Newman in the final game of the 2022-23 regular season but will still advance to the MIAA Basketball Championship next week in Kansas City.
 
UCO is 10-16 overall with a 7-15 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are tied with Newman and Washburn for ninth place. The first tiebreaker eliminated Washburn from the top 10, then Newman took the second tiebreaker to earn the ninth seed in the tournament. UCO will be the No. 10-seed and play No. 7 Emporia State Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. in the first round of the tournament.
 
"We didn't end it the way we wanted to, but we have new life with the postseason," first-year UCO head women's basketball coach Emma Andrews said. "We surely would've liked to go into the postseason with a win, but we're going and that's what matters."
 
UCO never led in Saturday's finale. The Bronchos trailed 3-0, soon after 8-3, and then 17-9 by the end of the first quarter. There were only four ties in the game, two in the opening quarter at 3-3 and again at 9-9. It wouldn't happen again until the fourth quarter.
 
Central trailed 17-9 after the first quarter, but cut into the lead by halftime and faced a 29-26 deficit at the break. Both teams put up 18 points in the third quarter, keeping the Bronchos within one possession.
 
Brooke Rayner hit a 3-pointer to tied the game, 47-47, 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. A free-throw from Aliyah Llanusa with 7:32 to play tied the game, 50-50. But a 9-3 run by Newman followed that and set the tone for the finish.
 
UCO ended the game shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and 25.8 percent from behind the 3-point line. The Bronchos went 8-for-31 from outside, but did add 12 of 17 made free-throws.
 
Rayner led the Bronchos in scoring with 17 points. She hit 6 of 9 shots, 3 of 5 threes, and 2 of 4 free-throws to go along with three steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Alayzha Knapp also scored in double figures, putting up 16 points on 6 of 14 shooting. She hit 3 of 6 threes and her only free-throw attempt. Knapp had a team-high seven rebounds to go with three steals, two assists and one block.
 
Llanusa made it three Bronchos in double figures with 15 points. She went 3 of 13 from the floor, including one 3-pointer, and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Llanusa had a team-high six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
 
Aspen Williston added eight points and five boards. Karly Wadsworth scored seven and Kassie Boorer added three points.
 
Central Oklahoma did not qualify for the MIAA Basketball Championship in 2013 – its first year in the league. But now the Bronchos have qualified for 10 consecutive tournaments and will meet Emporia State on Wednesday night in Kansas City.
 
 
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