Women's Basketball 2/19/2025 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Visits Washburn, Central Missouri

Bronchos Play Final Two MIAA Road Games

TOPEKA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma continues a three-game road swing with the second stop at Washburn Thursday night.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. UCO will continue from Topeka to Warrensburg, Missouri for a Saturday afternoon tilt with Central Missouri.

UCO is 7-17 overall this season and 6-9 in the MIAA. Washburn is 14-11 overall and 8-7 in league play. Central Missouri is 14-12 overall and also 6-9 in the MIAA.

Washburn is tied for sixth in the league standings, two games in front of the UCO and UCM, which are tied for eighth. The MIAA is using KPI ratings to determine the 10 teams qualifying for the league's postseason tournament next month in Kansas City. Washburn enters this week fifth in KPI, UCM is seventh, and UCO is 11th, and for the moment, out of the picture for KC.

Central Oklahoma has won 3 of 5 entering this week's games. The Bronchos have alternated wins and losses for the last two weeks but are looking to put together back-to-back wins for the second time this season.

Third-year head coach Emma Andrews is also aiming for her 100th career victory this week. The Melbourne, Australia native won 73 games at Cameron before taking the UCO job in 2022. She is 99-141 heading into Thursday night's game at Washburn.

Central Oklahoma is averaging 62.9 points per game this season and as a team is shooting 38.9 percent from the floor. The Bronchos shoot 29.3 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 5.8 made 3-pointers per game. UCO shoots 67.4 percent from the free-throw line and averages 10.7 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, UCO gives up 69.9 points per game with teams shooting 41.9 percent overall against the Bronchos. Opponents shoot 32.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 6.3 made threes per game. Teams also shoot 72.9 percent from the free-throw line and average 10.7 makes per game.

A quartet of Bronchos averaging double figures scoring gives Central a variety of options on offense.

Korie Allensworth averages 12.9 points per game, LaKysia Johnson averages an even 12.0 points per game, Jordyn Turner averages an even 11.0 points per game, and Talia Pogi averages 10.6 points per game.

Karly Wadsworth (6.8), Gracee Miller (6.1), and Peyton Walker (2.8) and Alexis Lewis (2.2) make up most of the 20.7 points per game UCO gets outside of the four double-digit scorers.

Turner leads UCO in rebounding at 9.1 boards per game and ranks second in the MIAA in total rebounds and average per game. Allensworth is second at 6.1 rebounds per game. Johnson leads the team with 1.7 steals per game and Walker adds 1.2 steals per game. Walker's 2.1 assists per game also leads the team.

Washburn averages 73.4 points per game and concedes 66.6 for a plus-6.8 scoring margin. The Ichabods shoot 44.6 percent overall, 32.3 percent from three with an average of 6.1 makes per game, and 68.1 percent from the line with an average of 14.9 makes per game.

Washburn's Yiibari Nwidadah (17.0 PPG) and Payton Sterk (16.6 PPG) rank fourth and fifth in the MIAA in scoring this season. Gabi Giovannetti (11.4 PPG) also averages double figures for Washburn. Nwidadah leads the team in rebounding at 7.7 boards per game.

Central Oklahoma will play at Washburn and at Central Missouri this weekend before finishing the 2024-25 regular season at home next week. The Bronchos host Arkansas Fort Smith Feb. 27 and Northeastern State March 1 at Hamilton Field House.

The 2025 MIAA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 5-9 in Kansas City at historical Municipal Auditorium.

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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

#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

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

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