OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team rolled to a 107-64 win in its final exhibition game of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Mavericks open the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. against Central Florida inside Baxter Arena.
Freshman Ellie Brecht led four Mavericks in double figures with 28 points, including a 7-for-10 effort from 3-point range. Brecht also grabbed eight rebounds. Junior Mikaela Shaw had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Amber Vidal scored 17 points with seven assists, while junior Abi Lujan added 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Junior Marissa Preston and freshman Caroline Hogue each chipped in nine points. Preston also had six assists, while Hogue had three blocked shots and four rebounds.
Peru State's Celine Jolicoeur had a team-best 22 points. Sydney Wilkinson added 12 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals.
Shaw put back a missed shot early in the first quarter and helped the Mavericks open on a 14-4 run over the first six minutes of the game. Shaw and Vidal combined for nine points in the opening run.
Brecht nailed three 3-pointers to extend UNO's lead to 19. A pair of Hogue jumpers and a Vidal lay-up with two seconds left in the first quarter helped Omaha to a 33-8 lead.
Brecht started the second quarter the same way she ended the first by draining a trey. A Preston lay-up and a pair of Vidal free throws extended Omaha's lead to 37 points (57-20) at the half.
Peru State opened the second half on a 10-5 run to cut UNO's lead to 64-30. Shaw scored seven quick points, including a 3-pointer, to extend Omaha's lead to 74-34 with 3:39 left in the third period.
A pair of Kalen Phillips free throws combined with a Brecht triple gave Omaha an 86-42 lead after three quarters.
Vidal scored six straight points in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks topped the century mark with under five minutes left in the game. Preston and Phillips scored the final five points for Omaha.
The Mavericks won the battle of the boards 57-27, and scored 56 points in the paint to the Bobcat's 24.
Omaha shot 57.5 percent from the field (42-of-73), including a 54.5 percent (12-of-22) effort from 3-point range. Peru State was limited to 32.9 percent from the field (23-of-70).
Omaha will officially open the season on Saturday, Nov. 14 against Central Florida in Baxter Arena at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase single game or season tickets, visit omavs.com/tix, ticketmaster.com, by phone at 402-554-2001 or in person at the Athletic Ticket Office at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Links to live stats, video streaming, and audio broadcast will be available at OMavs.com.
