OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team kicks off the 2017-18 season with a tough test as the Mavericks faceoff against Bradley on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
Follow the Game
Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com. The game will also be available on ESPN3 and can be viewed on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
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 was 16-15 last season and finished the Summit League regular season with a record of 8-8, putting it in fifth place.
• The Mavericks topped South Dakota 64-58 in the Summit League quarterfinals, before falling 84-82 to Western Illinois in the semifinals.
• 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.
• Omaha was picked to finish fifth in The Summit League preseason poll.
About Bradley
Bradley finished the 2016-17 season 12-19 overall and 7-11 in the Missouri Valley putting it in in seventh place. The Braves topped Upper Iowa 79-40 in its lone exhibition game on Nov. 4.
The Braves return three starters in guard Danielle Brewer, guard Anneke Schlueter and forward Vanessa Markert. Schlueter averaged 10.5 points per game in 2016-17. Markert chipped 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds and led the team with 38 blocked shots.
Omaha vs. Bradley
Friday's game is the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
Last Time Out
Four Mavericks scored in double digits as the Omaha women's basketball team defeated Avila, 103-40, in exhibition play Saturday afternoon at Baxter Arena.
Omaha jumped out early on Avila, opening the game with a 15-2 run.
Ellie Brecht led the way on the run with eight points. Brecht scored 10 points in the first quarter and went 4-of-5 from the field.
Emily Petersen and
Jay Bridgeman each had three points in the period. The Mavericks closed out the first quarter and led the Eagles 24-6.
Brecht extended her point total to 19 in the second quarter going 3-for-3 from the field. UNO took a 47-19 lead going into halftime.
Amber Vidal scored six points in the first half and went 2-for-2 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.
Jess Walter dished out seven assists in the first half.
Omaha exploded for 32 points and shot 66.7 percent (10-for-15) from the field in the third quarter. Walter scored nine points in the quarter, and Omaha went 3-for-5 from behind the three-point line. The Mavericks held the Eagles to 16.7 percent (4-for-24) from the field and led 79-28 at the end of the period.
Omaha shot 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from the field in the fourth quarter and outscored Avila 24-12.
Claire Killian scored six points in the quarter on 3-for-4 shooting from the field.
Brecht led Omaha with 27 points and five rebounds. Walter scored 15points and dished out eight assists in her first game in an Omaha uniform. Killian added 15 points, while Vidal chipped in 13 points, eight boards and five assists. Taylor Faulkner scored 13 points with four rebounds and four steals to lead Avila.
Tidbits
• Last season for all games played, the Mavericks ranked second in the Summit League in assists (16.6), field goal percentage (44.7 pct.), 3-pointers made (8.6) and 3-pointers attempted (23.6).
• They were third in defensive rebounds (25.7) and opponent's 3-point percentage (31.2 pct.). UNO was fourth in steals (6.8), blocks (2.7) and opponent's field goal percentage (40.4 pct.).
• The Mavericks posted a non-conference record of 8-7 last season, their second straight year with a winning record outside the Summit League.
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. Jessica Walter sat out the 2016-17 season after transferring from Indiana. Freshmen
Kylee Coulter,
Emily Dewey,
Claire Killian and
Emily Petersen will look to see their first minutes for the Mavericks this season.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks return to action on Monday, Nov. 13 visiting Kansas State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., and the game will be televised on K-StateHD.TV. Donny Baarns will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2 and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
