By Nick Eatman

When Central Oklahoma senior Lizzie Brenner's collegiate career is over, she has already said she won't be going too far.

            The standout forward will be on UCO's bench next season as a graduate assistant coach.

            But Brenner is trying to squeeze out as many more games in her illustrious playing career as she can. In fact, adding a conference championship to her list of accomplishments would be a rather nice touch to a career that has already established her as one of the top players in LSC history.

             Brenner, a first-team All-LSC North Division pick for the second straight year, isn't the only UCO standout, but not only provides a consistent force as a scorer and rebounder, but she's a coach on the floor.

            "She sees a lot of things that I don't sometimes," Bronchos head coach Guy Hardaker said. "Lizzie is a very smart player. She'll call me sometimes and tell me to remind the girls about something. It's really nice to have to someone like that on the floor. And she's a pretty great player, too."  

            Brenner finished seventh in the LSC in scoring at 14.3 points per game in the regular season and was sixth in rebounding, pulling down more than eight boards a game. But Brenner was one of only a handful of players this year to rank in the top 15 in scoring, rebounding, assists (3.4), steals (2.9) and blocked shots (1.7).

            Over her career, Brenner's is UCO's all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals, blocked shots, field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws and free throws made. 

            "I just try to do whatever I can to help us win," Brenner said. "That's really all that matters. My role on this team to be a leader and try to do some of the little things."

            So far in the tournament, Brenner has done some big things, too. In UCO's semifinal matchup with A&M-Commerce and North Division Player of the Year Britney Jordan, Brenner didn't exactly match Jordan in scoring, but was just effective.

            In the Bronchos' 100-86 win, Brenner had an all-around performance of 26 points, 11 rebounds - her ninth double-double of the season. She also had four assists and two steals, while her counterpart, Jordan, scored 37 points.

            Brenner said she didn't think about a showdown with Jordan, who is more of a point guard and wouldn't be guarded by her too often.

            "I just make sure I'm prepared for my role," Brenner said. "When the game keeps going, I was able to find something that worked and was able to keep on doing it."

            Brenner's scoring this season has been down somewhat from the last two years. She averaged 15.5 points as a sophomore, and then 17.4 last season. But this year, at just over 14 points per game, Brenner said her role has changed a little, especially because of the talented teammates she has, with scorers such as Mallory Markus and Ashley Beckley.

            "I am grateful for the girls around me," Brenner said. "Being a post you don't get to create a lot of shots for yourself. I just try to be a leader on the team."

            She's been a leader for her entire career - a career she hopes still has a few more games left in it.