OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team used a furious third quarter comeback to draw even with South Dakota, but were unable to keep the momentum in the fourth quarter. USD pulled away from UNO for a 70-55 Summit League victory.
The Mavericks are now 11-12 overall and 4-7 in Summit League play. The Coyotes improved to 19-5 on the season and 10-1 in league play.
Mikaela Shaw, who was just one rebound shy of her 10th double-double of the season, led Omaha with 13 points. Remy Davenport joined Shaw in double figures with 11 points. Caroline Hogue chipped in nine points and two blocked shots, while Bobbi Beckwith contributed seven.
Abigail Fogg and Nicole Seekamp each had 14 points to lead South Dakota. Seekamp added six assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Jasmine Trimboli added 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Omaha opened up an early 5-2 lead on South Dakota on a jumper by Abi Lujan and a 3-pointer from Davenport. South Dakota countered with a 13-0 run to close out the first quarter.
South Dakota opened the second stanza with a 10-5 run to extend its lead to 16 points, 25-9. A Hogue jumper and another three from Davenport cut the lead to 13 with less than two minutes remaining in the half. Following a Margaret McLoud free throw, Shaw hit a jumper to bring Omaha within 12 with less than 10 seconds on the clock. Seekamp drained a three as the half ended making the score 31-16.
The Mavericks tipped off the second half with an 18-4 run to force the Coyotes to call a timeout. Hogue started the run with a jumper in the paint and Shaw followed that up by converting an old-fashioned three-point play. Beckwith kept Omaha hot by draining a triple, before Hogue completed another Maverick three point play. Moments later, Shaw was fouled as she made her second layup of the quarter. She converted the free throw to draw Omaha within five points with 6:02 left in the third quarter. A missed USD shot led to a layup by Lujan on a fast break. Davenport's jumper with 4:39 left in the stanza cut the lead to one, 35-34.
Coming out of the timeout, Jasmine Trimboli sank a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to three points. Echelberry's first 3-pointer of the season tied the game 37-37. USD quickly regained the lead on a bucket from Trimboli. Omaha took its first lead since early in the game on Davenports third 3-pointer of the game with 1:10 left in the quarter. Back-to-back buckets from McClouod and Trimboli gave the lead back to the Coyotes. Beckwith hit a fading jumper as time expired to tie things up at 44-44.
The Coyotes opened the fourth quarter on a 15-5 run to take a 10 point lead with 4:58 left in regulation. Ellie Brecht hit her first 3-pointer of the game to bring Omaha back to within seven points, 59-52. South Dakota finished the game on an 11-3 run to make the final, 70-55.
Omaha returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 11 against Fort Wayne. Tipoff from Baxter Arena is set for 7 p.m. The game will serve as the Mavericks' “Pink Game” to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
