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EDMOND (Jan. 7) -- Five different players scored in a devastating game-opening 18-0 run that took away all doubt early and Central Oklahoma cruised past Eastern New Mexico 87-75 Thursday night at Hamilton Field House.
The Bronchos led by as many as 23 and were never challenged in winning for the fifth straight time, putting five players in double figures while improving to 9-3 on the season with their ninth consecutive home triumph.
UCO ends a three-game homestand Saturday with a 2 p.m. showdown against No. 12 ranked West Texas A&M, which beat the Bronchos in the LSC Tournament and South Central Regional finals last year.
Jordan Stark scored six points, while Ashley Beckley had four free throws, Cristina Yarbrough and Rose Anderson a 3-pointer apiece and Alyssa Fuxa a layup to give UCO its commanding 18-0 lead barely six minutes into the game and the the Zias got no closer than 10 the rest of the game.
"We came out strong and played really well most of the first half," UCO coach Guy Hardaker said. "We lost focus and got a little sloppy in the second half, but overall it was a pretty good effort."
Yarbrough finished with four 3-pointers and 18 points while adding six assists and six steals to lead the Bronchos. Beckley was 10-of-12 from the line in a 14-point outing, Fuxa and Savannah Hamilton had 12 points apiece off the bench and Stark ended with 10.
The Zias never recovered from the early onslaught, with UCO quickly pushing the lead to 20 (23-3) on a Fuxa jumper at the 12:49 mark. The advantage peaked at 23 three times (39-16, 41-18 and 43-20) before the Bronchos settled for a 19-point (47-28) halftime cushion.
UCO stayed easily in front throughout the second half before ENMU used a late-game run to get within the final 12-point margin.