Richardson Sparks Bronchos

2/26/2011 5:16:41 PM

Alex Richardson

Box Score

LAWTON, Okla. (Feb. 26) -- Alex Richardson had her second big game of the week in continuing a second-half surge to lead Central Oklahoma past Lone Star Conference North Division rival Cameron 74-59 here Saturday afternoon.

Richardson poured in a game-high 20 points and pulled down a game-best 12 rebounds in the regular season finale as the Bronchos nailed down the No. 2 seed for the North Division in next week's LSC Tournament.

UCO improved to 18-8 on the season and finished 11-3 in LSC North play. The Bronchos will take on the South Division No. 3 seed Angelo State at noon Wednesday in the first round of the league meet.

Richardson, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds in UCO's overtime win over Southwestern Oklahoma on Wednesday, was 7-of-14 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line. The 6-foot-2 junior center has averaged 12.6 points a game in the second semester after netting 6.4 a contest in the first.

“Alex played well and really gave us a big boost,” UCO coach Guy Hardaker said. “She's been playing better and better every week the second semester. It was a good win for us on the road and gives us some momentum going into the conference tournament.”

The Bronchos also got 15 points and eight rebounds from Ashley Beckley and 11 points and seven boards from Alyssa Fuxa.

UCO struggled with its shooting again, hitting just 22-of-58 field goals (37.9 percent), but committed a season-low eight turnovers and made 26-of-33 free throws (78.8 percent).

Richardson had six points and Beckley five as the Bronchos sprinted to a 13-5 lead just three minutes into the game, but CU came back to within 15-12 before Courtney Allen nailed a 3-pointer and Fuxa hit two foul shots to push the lead back to eight (20-12).

Allen's layup with just two seconds left gave the Bronchos a nine-point cushion (33-24) at intermission, though the Aggies rallied quickly to open the second half.

CU used a 13-3 run to take its first lead of the game at 37-36 and was up again 39-38 before Fuxa made four consecutive foul shots in putting the Bronchos on top to stay, 42-39.

It was still close at 46-43 when UCO put the game away with a 14-1 1 scoring spurt. Britney Morgan had a rare four-point play in the run that Heather Davis ended with a layup at the 4:44 mark that gave the Bronchos a big 60-44 lead.

UCO coasted in from there.

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