EDMOND, Okla. -- A pair of dry spells cost No. 25-ranked Midwestern State dearly Wednesday night against Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Fieldhouse.
 
Powered by huge runs near the end of each of half, the Bronchos rolled to a 72-53 win in non-conference play.
 
The Mustangs hit the Christmas Break with a 7-2 mark and will next hit the floor on New Year's Eve against Eastern New Mexico at Greyhound Arena in Portales.
 
"This game was a tough game for us to play," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "Regardless of that, we didn't come to play and didn't shoot the ball well. That's not us."
 
MSU shot a season low 24.2 percent from the field (16-of-66) including a 1-of-10 showing (10 percent) from the arc.  The Mustangs also struggled from the charity stripe at 20-for-35.
 
Central Oklahoma's inside duo of Alyssa Fuxa (18 points, 5 rebounds) and Courtney Harper (17 points, 9 rebounds) combined for 35 points.
 
Midwestern State junior forward Shambreka Jones failed to convert a three-point play but tied the game at 19-19 with five minutes to play, but wouldn't connect on another field until Skyler Warrick's baseline jumper with 31 seconds left for the half.
 
In between, the Bronchos reeled off a 16-2 run to push the advantage to 35-21 after consecutive 3-pointers by Chelsi Dennis and Courtney Harper.
 
The Mustangs battled back to within five points on two occasions and were within 53-48 on Shatoia Gober's put-back bucket with 9:47 to play.
 
But MSU once again went dry from the field for the next seven minutes while going 1-for-8 from the free throw line which allowed UCO to roll off a 13-1 run to take a commanding 66-49 lead on McKenzie Solberg's with 4:02 to play.
 
Junior guard Kirsti Degelia completed a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Gober finished with 10 points and nine rebounds to help the Mustangs control a 54-40 rebounding edge.
 
Central Oklahoma upped its season record to 7-2.