OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team hosts Western Illinois this Saturday, Jan. 13. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
About the Omaha Mavericks
• Omaha enters the weekend with a record of 8-7 (0-3 Summit League) after a 76-65 loss at Fort Wayne on Jan. 9.
• Three Mavericks are averaging double-figure scoring:
Jess Walter (12.9 ppg),
Amber Vidal (12.3 ppg) and
Ellie Brecht (10.3 ppg).
• Over the last three games, Vidal has averaged 14.5 points and 3.3 assists per contest while shooting .438 from the floor and .938 from the free throw line. She also averaged 33 minutes per game.
• UNO won seven straight games from Nov. 17-Dec. 6, its longest winning streak since the 2007-8 season.
• This season Vidal has led the Mavericks in scoring seven times while Walter has led the team three times.
• Three Mavericks have had at least one 20-point scoring performance this season with Vidal going for 20+ four times.
• Omaha shot .500 or better as a team in three straight games from Nov. 30-Dec. 6 and four times overall this year.
• The Mavericks were picked fifth in the league's 2017-18 preseason poll.
• Last season, UNO finished 16-15 overall and fifth in the Summit League with a mark of 8-8.
• Omaha returns two of five starters from last season's team, including juniors
Courtney Vaccher and
Amber Vidal.
• UNO also returns juniors
Ellie 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 the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks
Western Illinois enters the weekend with a 12-5 overall record and is 2-1 in Summit League action. The Fighting Leathernecks defeated Oral Roberts, 56-49, on Jan. 6 in Macomb, Ill.
Taylor Higginbotham leads for Western Illinois starters in double-figure scoring, averaging 17.0 points per game. Higginbotham also averages 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.2 steals per game. Emily Clemens averages 16.4 points and 8.0 assists per game. Morgan Blumer chips in 14.0 points and 5.5 boards per game.
As a team, the Leathernecks average 80.9 points per game and limit the opposition to 66.2 ppg. WIU ranks 25th Western Illinois forces the opponent into 20.8 turnovers per game while committing only 13.7 per contest.
Head coach JD Gravina is in his seventh season leading the Fighting Leathernecks. Gravina has a 111-92 record at Western Illinois and a 224-153 career mark spanning 13 years.
Series History
Saturday is the 14th all-time meeting between Omaha and Western Illinois. The Fighting Leathernecks hold a 9-4 series advantage and have won four-straight in the series. In the last meeting, WIU escaped UNO 84-82 in the Summit League Tournament semifinals on March 6, 2017.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks wrap up a two-game homestand hosting Denver on Jan. 18. Tipoff is at 5 pm. at Baxter Arena.
Follow the Game
Donny Baarns will have the radio call on 1180 Zone2. Links to live video, audio and stats are available on OMavs.com.
Connect with the Mavericks on Social Media
Fans are encouraged to connect with the Mavericks on Facebook (OmahaWBB), Instagram (@OmahaWBB) and Twitter (@OmahaWBB). They are also encouraged to use #MaverickUprising in posts.
