OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha women's basketball team returns to action this weekend at the Sapp Fieldhouse, hosting Montana State on Friday, Nov. 17 at Noon. The Mavericks then welcome Florida A&M to Sapp on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.
Follow the Game
Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com. Donny Baarns will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2.
Keeping Up with the Mavericks
Stay current with everything going on with the Mavericks by following Omaha women's basketball on Twitter (@OmahaWBB), Instagram (@OmahaWBB) and "liking" the Mavericks on Facebook at 'OmahaWBB.'
Maverick Fast Breaks
• Omaha is 0-2 on the season following an 81-60 loss at Kansas State on Monday.
•
Ellie Brecht and
Claire Killian were in double figures vs. K-State. Brecht had a season-best 20 points, while Killian pitched in 13.
• The Mavericks have had a 20-point scorer in both of their games this season.
• Last season, UNO finished 16-15 overall and fifth in the Summit League with a mark of 8-8. The Mavericks were picked fifth in the league's 2017-18 preseason poll last month.
• Omaha returns two of five starters from last season's team, including juniors
Courtney Vaccher and
Amber Vidal.
• A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Vaccher averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She played every game last season with 30 starts.
• Vidal, a guard from San Antonio, Texas, averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 assists per game in 2016-17.
• Omaha also returns juniors
Ellie Brecht and
Kalen Phillips, along with sophomore
Jay Bridgeman.
•
Sara Echelberry (So.) and
Jess Walter (Jr.) return to action after redshirting in 2016-17.
• The Mavericks welcome six newcomers in juniors
Alicia Mountain and
Romekia Wallace, and freshmen
Kylee Coulter,
Emily Dewey,
Claire Killian and
Emily Petersen.
About Montana State
The Bobcats have won two straight after dropping their season opener to USC, 98-47. Last time out, Montana State defeated Providence (MT) 66-31 in Bozeman, Mont.
Hanah Caudill and Madeline Smith pace Montana State averaging 15.3 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Smith also averages 9.7 rebounds per game.
Head coach Tricia Binford is in her 13th season at Montana State with a record of 198-67.
Omaha vs. Montana State
Omaha leads the all-time series with Montana State, 1-0. The Mavericks defeated the Bobcats 88-68 on Dec. 19, 1999.
About Florida A&M
The Rattlers are off to a 0-2 start falling to Eastern Michigan, 83-61, and Texas Tech, 82-63.
Florence Ouattara is one of three FAMU players averaging double-figures so far this season. Ouattara averages 21 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Dawn King and Shalunda Burney-Robinson each average 10 points a game. Shakeyrra Morrison averages 6.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Head coach LeDawn Gibson is in her 10th season at Florida A&M and has a career record of 134-141.
Omaha vs. Florida A&M
Omaha leads the all-time series with Florida A&M, 1-0. The Mavericks defeated the Rattlers 70-50 last season in Tallahassee.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks will spend Thanksgiving break in Spartanburg, S.C., next weekend. USC Upstate hosts Omaha on Friday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. UNO then plays at Wofford on Sunday, Nov. 26 at Noon.
Opening for Omaha
Five players made their first appearance in a Maverick uniform against Bradley.
Jess Walter and
Claire Killian started for Omaha and combined for 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 59 minutes of action.
Alicia Mountain,
Emily Petersen and
Romekia Wallace each came off the bench.
Look Who's Back
Omaha returns six newcomers, including two starters from 2016-17. Returning starters include guard
Amber Vidal (16 starts) and center
Courtney Vaccher (30). Other returners include guard
Ellie Brecht (29 games), forward
Jay Bridgeman (30),
Sara Echelberry (20 games) and
Kalen Phillips (11 games).
Youth Will Be Served
Along with the team's six returners, six newcomers are eligible to make their debuts this season. In addition to junior Jessica Walter, junior transfers
Alicia Mountain and
Romekia Wallace will join the rotation. Freshmen
Kylee Coulter,
Emily Dewey,
Claire Killian and
Emily Petersen will look to see their first minutes for the Mavericks this season.
Defending Baxter
Omaha had a record of 9-4 at home last season, and the Mavericks averaged 77.9 points per game with a 17.4 margin of victory at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks play 12 games at Baxter Arena and two more at Sapp Fieldhouse this season. UNO opens the home portion of its season Friday, Nov. 17 versus Florida A&M at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Mavericks Picked Fifth in Summit League Poll
Omaha was picked fifth in the 2017-18 Summit League Preseason Poll. The poll was tallied in a vote of the league's head coaches, communications personnel and media.
South Dakota State was the favorite to win the Summit League, garnering 16 first-place votes for 380 points. Western Illinois was second and received 12 first-place votes for 372 points. South Dakota came in third with 307 votes, followed by Oral Roberts (238) in fourth. Omaha was fifth in the poll with 185 points, while North Dakota State came in sixth with 150 points. Denver (143) and Fort Wayne (60) rounded it out in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
2017-18 Schedule
Omaha's 2017-18 schedule includes 27 games, and the team will play in eight states against schools from nine other Division I conferences. The slate has two opponents from the Missouri Valley and one each from the Atlantic Sun, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big West MEAC, SOCON and WAC. Five opponents – Creighton, Kansas State, Montana State, Northern Iowa and defending Summit League champion Western Illinois – played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. South Dakota and South Dakota State each played in the WNIT.
