OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team wraps up its 2015-16 exhibition schedule by hosting the Peru State Bobcats at Baxter Arena on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are available now via omavs.com/tix, ticketmaster.com, by phone at 402-554-2001 or in person at the Athletic Ticket Office at Sapp Fieldhouse. Live radio coverage will be aired locally this season on the NRG Media family of local radio stations with Jon Green on the call.
For Starters
- The 2015-16 season marks the 46th in the history of Omaha women's basketball.
- The Mavericks have now completed their four-year transition to Division I and are fully eligible to compete in the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
- UNO returns four letter winners from last year's squad, including all-conference selection Mikaela Shaw (15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg).
- The Mavs also welcome six freshmen to this year's roster -- Ellie Brecht, Jay Bridgeman, Sara Echelberry, Caroline Hogue, Kalen Phillips, and Amber Vidal.
- Also new to the roster are five transfers -- Michaela Dapprich, Moriah Dapprich, Abi Lujan, Marissa Preston, and Courtney Vaccher.
- Omaha was picked to finish seventh in the preseason by league coaches and media. Mikaela Shaw was tabbed first team All-Summit League.
Meet the Mavericks
Omaha returns its top two scorers from last season in forward Mikaela Shaw and guard Remy Davenport. Shaw, a junior, earned Preseason First Team All-Summit League honors by averaging 15.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds. Davenport, a sophomore sharp shooter, averaged 9.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg last season. Davenport connected on 34.6 percent of her 3-point shots last year.
Vanessa Barajas and Bobbi Beckwith were part-time starters last season for the Mavs. As a freshman, Barajas averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.0 rpg. She also blocked 10 shots. Beckwith sat out the first half of last season per NCAA transfer rules, appeared in 16 games with three starts last season. She averaged 3.6 ppg and 2.2 rpg.
Newcomers Ready to Shine
The Mavericks have 11 new faces on the court this season, including six freshmen. Caroline Hogue and Amber Vidal were named nominees for the 2015 McDonald's All-American game. Joining the duo are Ellie Brecht, Jay Bridgeman, Sara Echelberry, and Kalen Phillips.
As a senior, Brecht was a repeat first-team all-state selection from Sioux Falls Lincoln High School. She averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Bridgeman led Westside High School to the Nebraska Class A state title and averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a senior. She was named captain of the Nebraska All-State Basketball team. Echelberry averaged 15.4 pts, 8.0 rebounds and 2 blocked shots as a senior at Conway Springs High School (Kan.). Phillips, a guard from South Jones High School in Ellisville, Miss., was ranked a 3-star recruit on ESPN. During her senior season, she averaged 19.0 points, 7.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.
Infusion of Transfers
Omaha will also see five transfers on the roster this season. Michaela Dapprich, Moriah Dapprich, Abi Lujan, Marissa Preston, and Courtney Vaccher will add valuable experience to a young Maverick squad. Michaela Dapprich, Moriah Dapprich, and Courtney Vaccher will have to sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA Division I transfer rules, but will be valuable assets on the scout team this year. The Dapprich sisters spent last season at Wichita State, while Vaccher was a member of the Texas Tech team.
Lujan spent the past two seasons at Western Nebraska Community College. She averaged 6.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in her sophomore year and was named to the Region 9 All-Defensive team. Preston joined the Mavericks last season from Wichita State, but had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. In her one season with the Shockers, she played in 26 games and started one and averaged 2.3 points in 9.9 minutes per game.
A Look at the Bobcats
The Peru State women's basketball team is in a rebuilding mode this season under Interim Head Coach Chuck Brewer. The Bobcats return five players from last season and have 11 newcomers. Last season, PSU finished the season 11-20 overall and 7-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
All five returners for Peru State have experience starting games. Leading the way for PSC are seniors Sydney Wilkinson and Madara Laure. Wilkinson averaged 6.8 points per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 2.9 steals per game last season. Laure averaged 3.7 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Heather Breeke appeared in every game last season for the Bobcats and averaged 3.0 points per game. Jennifer Ostrowski appeared in three games last season, before suffering a season ending injury. Elizabeth Bowman appeared in 14 games last season.
Peru State brought in seven transfers and four freshmen to round out the 2015-16 roster. Lindsay Juarez, Jackie Robles, and Samantha Zavala all played at Reedley Community College last season before making the move to Peru State. Rashaun Casey and Iland Shurn played at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Justice Daniel and Celine Jolicoeur joined the Bobcats after a successful run at Highland Community College.
Jackie Beaugard, Kealy Ensminger, Kiley Guerue, and Kendra Myers represent the incoming freshmen. Last season, Guerue took a redshirt season at Webster University.
Digging Deeper
- Peru State lost its season opener to No. 1 Morningside College (NAIA Division II), 104-66. The Bobcats will also face Friends University on Saturday.
- Rashaun Casey had a team high 17 points, while Justice Daniel added 16 points.
- The Bobcats shot 37.5 percent (24-64) from the floor and 25 percent from 3-point land (8-32).
- Kiley Guerue led the team with eight rebounds, while Jackie Beaugard had a team-best four assists.
Series History
Omaha leads the all-time series against Peru State, 9-0. The Mavericks defeated Peru State last year in Omaha, 68-54.
Up Next
The Mavericks officially open the 2015-16 season on Saturday, Nov. 14, when they host Central Florida at 2 p.m.
