OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team outscored Fort Wayne 27-16 in the third quarter to power past the Mastodons Thursday night in Baxter Arena, registering a 71-64 victory. Junior Mikaela Shaw paced the home team with her tenth double-double of the season, stuffing the stat sheet with 23 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Shaw was joined in double-figures by freshman Caroline Hogue with 14 points, three rebounds, and three blocked shots and sophomore Remy Davenport with 11 points and two steals.
The Mavericks move to 12-12 on the season and 5-7 in Summit League play with the win, while IPFW falls to 5-19 overall and 1-10 in league play.
Kamilah Carter led the Mastodons in the defeat, totaling 19 points and three assists. Keanna Gary added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Omaha sprinted out to an early 6-2 advantage as Hogue, Shaw and Abi Lujan combined to score Omaha's points. Three straight IPFW baskets erased the UNO lead by the 6:49 mark in the opening quarter. A Carter 3-pointer put the Mastodons up three, 13-10. Sara Echelberry hit one of two free throws and Marissa Preston scored on a lay-up to pull the two teams even with 22 seconds remaining, 15-15. Gary beat her Maverick defender and nailed a jumper as the quarter came to an end to give IPFW the lead, 17-15.
IPFW's stingy defense held the Omaha offense in check during the second quarter of action as they shot just 4-of-15 (26.6 percent) from the field, compared to Fort Wayne's 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) shooting performance. Carter and Allyson Bunch combined for 12 of the 17 points scored by IPFW in the quarter. Shaw led the Mavericks with six points during the second period. Omaha trailed Fort Wayne at the half 34-24.
Coming out of the break, a quick 13-5 run by the home team, sparked Shaw and Hogue, cut the IPFW lead to 39-37 early in the third period. Omaha continued to roll the rest of the half as an Ellie Brecht 3-pointer with 2:57 remaining in the third gave the Mavs their first lead since first quarter 46-45. A jumper by Hogue stretched the lead to three, but a three by IPFW's Carter tied things up with under two minutes left in the period. A Davenport 3-pointer helped Omaha take a three point lead, but a Bunch layup as the quarter ended pulled IPFW within one, 51-50.
Fort Wayne took the lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter as a Bunch 3-pointer gave the Mastodons a 53-51 lead. A pair of Shaw free throws was followed by a Davenport three to put Omaha back up four. The Maverick offense continued to roll the rest of the quarter, answering each Fort Wayne score with points of its own. A Carter bucket with 3:15 left in regulation cut the Omaha lead to one, 65-64. UNO held IPFW scoreless the rest of the game and Lujan and Shaw combined to score the game's final six points.
Omaha will return to action Sunday afternoon against North Dakota State. Tip-off from Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse in Fargo is set for 2 p.m.
