OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha closes a two-game road swing this week, taking on the Fort Wayne Mastodons on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Gates Sports Complex. Tipoff from Fort Wayne, Ind., is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Follow the Game
Donny Baarns will have the radio call on 1180 Zone2, and links to audio, live stats and video are available on OMavs.com.
About the Omaha Mavericks
• Omaha enters the week with a record of 8-6 (0-2 Summit League) after an 89-64 loss at South Dakota on Jan. 3.
• UNO is coming off an 89-64 loss at South Dakota State on Jan. 3.
• Three Mavericks are averaging double-figure scoring:
Jess Walter (12.8 ppg),
Amber Vidal (12.2 ppg) and
Ellie Brecht (10.2 ppg).
• Over the last three games, Vidal has averaged 14.6 points and 2.0 assists per contest while shooting .432 from the floor.
• UNO won seven straight games from Nov. 17-Dec. 6, its longest winning streak since the 2007-8 season.
• Over the last five games, Omaha has had four different players leading it in scoring.
• 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 Fort Wayne Mastodons
Fort Wayne enters Tuesday's contest with a 3-13 overall record and a 0-3 mark in Summit League play. The Mastodons fell 73-55 to Denver on Jan. 6 at home.
De'Jour Young averages 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game to lead the Mastodons. Jaelencia Williams and Anna Lappenkuper average 9.3 and 8.3 points per game, respectively. Williams also averages 5.8 boards per contest while Lappenkuper dishes out 2.7 assists per game.
Head coach Niecee Nelson is in her second season at the helm of the Fort Wayne women's basketball team. Nelson is 8-37 in her two seasons with the Mastodons.
Series History
Tuesday evening is the 11th meeting between Omaha and Fort Wayne with the all-time series tied, 5-5. The Mavericks won the last meeting 63-49 at Baxter Arena on Feb. 15, 2017.
Looking Ahead
Omaha continues Summit League play on Saturday, Jan. 13, hosting Western Illinois. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMav.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.
