This Week's Release

This Week:  The UNO women's basketball team plays its first home game of 2009 when it hosts the Truman State University Bulldogs on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.  The Mavericks then hit the road on Saturday, Jan. 10 to visit the University of Central Missouri Jennies at 1:30 p.m.

The Records:  The Mavericks are 5-5 this season and 2-3 in the MIAA.  They earned a 73-62 win over Missouri Western in their last outing on Jan. 3.  Truman State is 3-10 on the season and 0-6 in the MIAA.  The Bulldogs are coming off a 71-46 loss at Fort Hays State last Saturday.  Central Missouri is 9-3 so far this season and 4-1 in league play.  The Jennies snapped Washburn's 12-game winning streak to start the season by winning 79-77 in overtime at Topeka, Kan. last Saturday.

The Coaches:  Patty Patton Shearer is in her fifth season at UNO. She is 72-54 all time at UNO.  Last year, the Mavericks started 14-1 (the best start in school history) and recorded their third-straight winning season at 17-12.  A native of Marana, Ariz., Patton Shearer is a 1990 graduate of Rocky Mountain College.  Michael Smith is in his first season at Truman State.  He was named head coach in April of 2008 after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.  Smith is 105-44 as a head coach.  He is a 1996 graduate of Central Methodist University.  Dave Slifer is in his fifth season at Central Missouri.  The 1982 graduate of Mount Mercy College is 465-148 all-time as a head coach.

The Series:  The Mavericks are 2-1 all time against Truman State.   The two teams last played on Dec. 17, 2000, an 80-68 TSU win at Sapp Fieldhouse.  UNO trails the all-time series with Central Missouri, 9-8.  The Jennies earned a 70-56 win in Omaha on Nov. 30, 2007 in the last meeting.  Central has won the last 4 games head-to-head.

Media:  Both games can be heard live on KOIL 1180 AM in Omaha.  David Gustafson will call all the play-by-play beginning with the pre-game show at 5:20 p.m.  The game also is available on-line at omavs.com.  Both games may be viewed on-line at themiaa.tv.

Coming Up:  The Mavericks will play two home games next week.  On Wednesday, Jan. 14, they'll host Southwest Baptist University at 5:30 p.m.  They'll finish on Saturday, Jan. 17 against Missouri Southern State University at 5 p.m.