UCO Sports
Chris Brannick, Director of Sports Media Relations
NORMAN – The University of Central Oklahoma women’s basketball team is set to take on Oklahoma Friday night in the final exhibition contest of the preseason for the Bronchos. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center.
Guy Hardaker is preparing to enter his 12th season as head coach of the Bronchos. He took UCO to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time last season, with Central finishing 25-8 and ranked No. 25 in the country.
“These are funs games to play in,” Hardaker said about the matchup with OU. “It’s always a good opportunity when you get to play a Division I school. And I’m excited to see how we do. I really like our team this year and we want to build off of the success we had last season.”
Central returns 10 from last year’s squad, including three regular starters.
Melinda Murillo, who earned First Team All-MIAA honors last year, becoming the first Broncho to do so since UCO joined the league in 2012, returns for her senior season with her sights set a little higher. Murillo averaged 14.4 points per game last season.
Another senior, Jesheon Cooper, averaged 11 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game last season. Her 100 blocks shattered the school record and ranked fourth in the country.
Blake Blessington is the third returning starter. The junior has already played 63 career games though. Last season, she tied the school record for 3-pointers in the first game of the season. She went on to average 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Megan Womack, Madison Lee, Shatoya Bryson, and Ireon Smith were all regulars off the bench last season and played key roles for the Bronchos. They are all back, as well as redshirts Sadie Mason, Taylor O’Dell, and Gabrielle Johnson.
Oklahoma was tabbed No. 21 in the country in the Associated Press Top 25. Veteran head coach Sherri Coale enters her 21st season in charge of the Sooners. Last season, OU went 23-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2017-18 regular season opens Friday, Nov. 10 in Durant, Okla. for the Bronchos. UCO will play Southeastern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State as part of the MIAA/GAC Crossover Challenge at Southeastern.