OMAHA, Neb. - After playing its last four games at home, the Omaha women's basketball team (7-3, 0-0 Summit League) travels to California for a pair of games next week. The Mavericks visit CSU Bakersfield on Monday, Dec. 18, before playing at CSUN on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
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 is 7-3 through its first 10 games this season. It is the best start to a season since the 2015-16 season when the Mavericks started 7-3.
• UNO had its seven-game winning streak snapped vs. Creighton last week. It was the ninth time in school history the Omaha had won at least seven games in a row.
•
Ellie Brecht,
Amber Vidal and
Jess Walter have led Omaha's offensive attack through the first 10 games this season. The tri has averaged 43.5 points, 12.4 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Brecht, Vidal and Walter are the Mavericks top three scorers this season, while junior
Courtney Vaccher leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots.
• Vidal's numbers have been outstanding this season. The San Antonio, Texas, native is averaging 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. She also leads the team in minutes played, appearing in 347 out of a possible 400 minutes.
• Walter leads the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game and is second on the team with 3.8 assists per game.
• Brecht is second on the team in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and tied for second in scoring (12.5 ppg).
•
Claire Killian is fourth on the squad in scoring (10.2 ppg) and leads the team in steals.
• Brecht, Vaccher, Walter and
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 CSU Bakersfield
The Roadrunners are 4-6 overall (0-0 WAC) so far this season after a 72-35 win over Whittier College on Saturday afternoon.
Aja Williams leads CSU Bakersfield with 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Alexxus Gilbert adds 6.0 points and 1.9 assists per contest, while Jazmine Johnson chips in 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Greg McCall is in his seventh season as the head coach at CSU Bakersfield. McCall has a career mark of 92-99 with the Roadrunners.
CSU Bakersfield was picked third in the WAC Preseason Media Poll. Jazmyne Bartee was selected Preseason First Team All-WAC in the media poll while senior Aja Williams earned a Second Team nod. In the coaches' poll, the Roadrunners were picked second with Bartee and Williams both garnering second-team All-WAC honors.
Mavericks vs. Roadrunners
Omaha and CSU Bakersfield have met twice with each team winning on its home floor. UNO won the last meeting 80-68 in Omaha on Dec. 11, 2014.
About CSUN
The Matadors are 4-6 overall (0-0 Big West) so far this season and bring a three-game winning streak into Monday's game against Northern Arizona.
Channon Fluker averages a double-double with 18.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season. Serafina Maulupe and Tessa Boagni also average double-digit points with 11.7 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
CSUN was picked second in the Big West Coaches and Media Poll. The Matadors return the top player in the league in reigning Big West Player of the Year and first-team All-Big West selection Channon Fluker. CSUN also returns last season's Freshman of the Year in Eliza Matthews and a second-team All-Big West choice Serafina Maulupe.
Head coach Jason Flowers is in his eighth year with the Matadors and has a career record of 107-125 at CSUN. Under Flowers' watch, CSUN won the Big West Tournament Championship in 2014 and 2015 to earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Matadors also won the Big West Regular Season Title in 2014 for the first time in program history.
Mavericks vs. Matadors
Wednesday will be the first all-time meeting between Omaha and CSUN.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks open Summit League play against Oral Roberts on Dec. 30. Tipoff at Baxter is set for 1 p.m.
