Kearney, Neb. – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos got strong performances from starters Madison Lee and Jesheon Cooper and closed on a 30-9 run to rally past Nebraska-Kearney, 67-59, Thursday night in Edmond.

Thanks to solid final 11 minutes, UCO (18-5, 9-5), ranked most of the season in the WBCA Top 25, sees a two-game losing streak to UNK come to an end. Meanwjile, the Lopers (18-4, 10-4) lose for the first time since January 6 and a seven-game win streak goes by the wayside.

UNK seemingly was headed for an eighth straight victory as they led for the first 36:52 and by as many as 13 points. However, the Lopers offensive production dipped with each passing 10 minutes, finishing with five points on 2 of 13 shooting in the fourth quarter.

"I thought we played well on both sides of the ball for the first three quarters. We had a few too many turnovers (17) against a team that pressures a little bit," said Loper assistant coach Brandon Rohr. "It just didn't quite bounce our way down the stretch. There's a few possessions and a few defensive rebound opportunities we would like back."

Now 11-1 in games decided by 10 points or less, UNK led 50-37 after a triple by Crofton freshman Kelsey Sanger. UCO started its big run by scoring the final four points of the third quarter to trail 54-46. The two buckets came in the final 41 seconds.

Senior guard Melinda Murillo, UCO's leading scoring on the year, made it a six-point game 10 seconds into the fourth quarter and then both squads went cold. UCO tallied three points over the next seven minutes while the Lopers were stuck on 54 points.

UNK's only baskets of the quarter came on-back-to-back possessions as senior guard Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) banked in a runner and junior forward Jaymie Bernbeck (Garden City, Kan.) hit a baseline jumper. That made it 58-54 with 2:52 remaining but UCO tallied the next eight points.

"They were really physical going to the ball and started switching things late. That kind of threw us off a little bit. The floor started to shrink and it makes it harder for the offense to operate. One player is able to guard two," said Rohr.  

After an offensive rebound, sophomore reserve guard Shatoya Bryson hit a three to make it a one-point deficit. The Lopers missed a shot with 2:05 left and then Cooper, standing 6-5, tallied a put back layup to tie the game. A UNK turnover followed and then Lee, averaging three points on the year, rebounded a miss and converted a three-point play that gave her team the lead for good.

Barry made one of two free throws with 46 seconds to go to keep it a one possession game but Lee hit a jumper with the shot clock winding down. Averaging three points on the year, she finished with 10 points, seven coming in the fourth. Shooting 80 percent at the line coming in, the 'Chos went 5 of 7 at the line to salt things away

"We were up four with two and a half left and gave up an offensive rebound and it got kicked out for a three. We just got to close and that's something our group and done all year. We just didn't do it tonight," said Rohr.

In losing two games to UNK late last year, UCO committed a combined 38 turnovers. Tonight, they had only eight while hitting seven threes and limiting UNK to 39 percent shooting.

The 'Chos came in among the MIAA leaders in field goal percentage defense (34.2) and Cooper is one big reason why. She finished with six blocks and altered countless others as she was parked in the lane in the fourth quarter. Besides the swats, Cooper had 10 rebounds and eight points.

In addition to Lee's heroics, starter Blake Blessington (18) and Murillo (11) scored in double figures as did Bryson (10). She came in averaging 5.4 points per game.

For UNK, Barry had second double double (18 points and 10 rebounds) of the year with Sanger tallying 14 and Grand Island senior McKenzie Brown chipping in with 12 points and nine boards. Barry made eight free throws and five shots while also having a team-best six assists. Next, these three players each logged 38 minutes.

Finally, Humphrey graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer fouled out midway the fourth, UNK's fifth DQ of the year, and managed five points and five rebounds.

UNK heads to Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon. The RiverHawks (9-12, 5-9) fell tonight to Fort Hays State, 71-53.