OMAHA, Neb. - After a successful 2-0 road trip in the state of South Carolina, the Omaha women's basketball team returns to Baxter Arena this week to start a four-game homestand. Omaha hosts Graceland on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. UNO then plays College of Saint Mary on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m.
Follow the Game
Donny Baarns will have the radio call of both games on 1180 Zone 2 and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
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 enters the week 4-2 after winning two straight in South Carolina over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Mavericks stopped USC Upstate 69-66 last Friday, before holding off Wofford 64-60 on Sunday.
• Four members of Omaha's junior class,
Ellie Brecht,
Courtney Vaccher,
Amber Vidal and
Jess Walter, has led Omaha's offensive attack. The quartet has combined to average 47.5 points, 20.6 rebounds and 13.3 assists per game, while shooting .448 from the field and .333 from deep. Brecht, Vidal and Walter are UNO's top three scorers so far this season with all three averaging at least 10.0 points a contest.
• Vidal's numbers have been outstanding this season. The junior from San Antonio, Texas, averages 13.5 points, 5.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. She has played 217 of a possible 240 minutes and leads the team with 34 assists.
• Vidal has scored 20 or more points twice this season, and Brecht and Walter have scored 20 once.
•
Claire Killian is averaging 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in her first six games as a Maverick.
• Brecht, Vaccher Vidal, Walter, and sophomore
Jay Bridgeman each average over 4.0 rebounds per game.
• 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 Vaccher and Vidal.
• UNO also returns juniors Brecht and
Kalen Phillips, along with sophomore Bridgeman.
• Walter and sophomore
Sara Echelberry 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 Graceland University
The Yellowjackets are 4-5 this season after defeating Evangel, 65-63, on Wednesday evening. Alexis Matthew-Fells scored a team-high 18 points, while Jaycee Cleaver and Christacia Dawkins each had 17 points. Dawkins and Matthew-Fells also grabbed eight rebounds apiece.
Jamiese Wiley leads the Yellowjackets with 15.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Matthew-Fells averages 14.8 points and 7.6 boards per game. Emily Work chips in 11.1 points and 3.4 assists per game. Both Matthews-Fells and Wiley have a pair of double-doubles on the season.
Head coach Frank Howell is in his second season at Graceland and has a career mark of 10-28.
Omaha vs. Graceland
Thursday marks the third all-time meeting between the Mavericks and the Yellowjackets. Omaha leads the all-time series 3-1. The last time the two programs met, UNO defeated GU 89-54 on Nov. 21, 2014.
About College of Saint Mary
The Flames enter the week with a 0-9 overall record and a 0-4 record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Last time out, CSM dropped a 114-53 decision to GPAC foe Concordia. Keona Cadore and Corryne Millett each had 12 points for the Flames.
Tyler Sumpter averages 14.8 points to lead College of Saint Mary. Miranda Acuna adds 13.0 points for game. CSM. Millett and Lacey Knudsen each average over 5.0 rebounds per game.
Head coach Jesse Flanagan is in his third year at the helm of the CSM program and has a career record of 23-45.
Omaha vs. College of Saint Mary
Omaha leads the all-time series with College of Saint Mary, 26-1. In their last meeting, the Mavericks defeated the Flames 88-49 on Dec. 7, 2011.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks continues their four-game homestand next week welcoming Northern Iowa and Creighton to Baxter Arena. Omaha hosts Northern Iowa on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., then played crosstown foe Creighton on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m.
