Women's Basketball 1/7/2025 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits Northeastern State, Arkansas Fort Smith

Bronchos Hit The Road For Four MIAA Games This Month

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Central Oklahoma begins a four-game road swing Thursday evening with an MIAA matchup against longtime in-state rival Northeastern State.

UCO heads to Tahlequah with a 4-9 overall record, but the Bronchos are 3-1 in the MIAA and have won three consecutive league matchups. Northeastern State is 5-8 overall this season and 1-3 in league play.

"NSU is a good team and they've gotten better the last couple of years, so it'll be a tough test for us," UCO head women's coach Emma Andrews said. "But we're gaining confidence with each of these wins. We learned a lot early and now we're putting it together. We need to continue that this weekend."

Central Oklahoma will move from Tahlequah to Fort Smith, Arkansas on Friday as the Bronchos prepare to face the newest member of the MIAA. UCO tips off against Arkansas – Fort Smith Saturday at 1 p.m. The UAFS Lions are 8-5 on the season and 2-2 in league play. Fort Smith hosts Rogers State on Wednesday night before welcoming UCO to town this weekend.

Central Oklahoma heads out this week averaging 63.5 points per game through 13 games played this season. The Bronchos shoot 38.8 percent overall, 30.1 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 68.6 percent from the free-throw line. UCO averages 5.3 made threes per game and 12.6 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma concedes 71.7 points per game with teams shooting 43.4 percent overall against the Bronchos. Opponents shoot 33.5 percent from behind the 3-point line with 6.2 makes per game, and 72.6 percent from the free-throw line with 10.4 makes per game.

UCO has four players averaging double figures heading into this weekend's road trip. Korie Allensworth leads the team with 13.4 points per game, LaKysia Johnson is scoring 11.6 points per game, Jordyn Turner adds 11.3 points per game, and Talia Pogi is at 10.4 points per game.

Gracee Miller (7.5) and Karly Wadsworth (5.4) add to the scoring, with Alexis Lewis (2.5), Peyton Walker (2.0), and Parker Simonsen (2.0) contributing as well.

Allensworth leads the team in free-throws made (41) and attempted (48), with her 85.4 percent rate also the best on the team. She adds 5.8 rebounds per game as well.

Johnson leads the team with 63 made field goals and the senior guard shoots a team-high 53.4 percent from the floor. Johnson's 26 steals in 13 games also leads the team and her 2.0 steals per game ranks fifth in the MIAA.

Turner is second on the team with 56 made buckets this year. The senior forward shoots 47.5 percent from the floor. She leads the team at 8.5 rebounds per game, pulling down 111 boards in 13 games this season. Turner's 12 blocks leads the team too.

Pogi plays a team-high 32.4 minutes per game and the junior guard has taken more shots (150) than any other player on the team. She leads UCO with 24 made 3-pointers as well and her 24 assists are the second most.

Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State have played 75 times on the hardwood, with NSU holding a narrow 40-35 advantage in the all-time series. UCO had a 12-game win streak snapped two years ago. NSU swept the series last season.

UCO leads the series with Arkansas Fort Smith, 9-3.

Central Oklahoma will play NSU and UAFS this weekend before traveling to Missouri Southern Jan. 16 and Pittsburg State Jan. 18. UCO split the weekend with those two in Edmond last month. Pitt State is ranked 13th in the country in this week's WBCA Top 25. The Gorillas are responsible for UCO's only conference loss this season.

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Players Mentioned

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

#35 Alexis Lewis: F; 6' 0"; Senior

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

#23 Talia Pogi: F; 5' 9"; Junior

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

#10 Peyton Walker: G; 5' 4"; Freshman

#15 Parker Simonsen: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#20 Jordyn Turner: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#22 Korie Allensworth: F; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#35 Alexis Lewis
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

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

#23 Talia Pogi
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

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

#10 Peyton Walker
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: G

#15 Parker Simonsen
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#20 Jordyn Turner
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#22 Korie Allensworth
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F