University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

UCO Takes the Bite Out of Rattlers

12/29/2009 7:23:51 PM

Rose Anderson

Game Statistics

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Dec. 28) -- Two 3-pointers in the opening minute put Central Oklahoma in command early and the Bronchos led wire-to-wire in knocking off host St. Mary's 78-65 here Tuesday on the first day of the St. Mary's Classic.

Rose Anderson drilled a 3-pointer 15 seconds into the contest and Jordan Stark followed a SMU turnover with another trey to give UCO a quick 6-0 lead, with Ashley Beckley converting a layup a minute later to put the Rattlers in an 8-0 hole that they would never recover from.

The Bronchos went on to take a 39-28 halftime lead and St. Mary's got no closer than eight in the final 20 minutes as UCO improved to 6-3 on the season heading into a 2 p.m. game Wednesday against Incarnate Word.

Click here for live stats of Wednesday's game.

"We got off to a great start and shot the ball really well, especially from outside," UCO coach Guy Hardaker said. "It was a good win for us and hopefully we carry it over to tomorrow."

The Bronchos shot a season-high 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the field, including 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from beyond the arc. UCO hit 5-of-7 shots (71.4 percent) from 3-point range in the second half.

Beckley finished with game highs in both points (20) and rebounds (nine) in addition to handing out four assists. Anderson was 4-of-5 from long range in scoring 18 points while adding four assists and four steals, while Stark had 15 points and four steals and Kasey Tweed 10 points.

UCO's early 8-0 lead turned into a 27-15 advantage midway through the first half, but the Rattlers rallied to within four (32-28) with 3:05 left before the Bronchos ended with eight unanswered points on two Beckley free throws, a Jill Bryan jumper and a Courtney Allen 3-pointer to go up 39-28 at the break.

St. Mary's tried to stay close and had the deficit to eight at 58-50 with 8:50 remaining. Stark then drained a 3-pointer and Tweed a layup following an Anderson steal to make it 63-50 and the Bronchos coasted in from there.

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