OMAHA, Neb. – Just off a season-opening win over USC Upstate on Friday, the Omaha women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2018-19 as the Mavericks travel to Manhattan, Kan., to face Kansas State on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.
Keeping Up with the Mavericks
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.
From the Baseline
• Omaha opened the 2018-19 season with a 96-69 victory over USC Upstate last Friday at Baxter Arena.
• Seven UNO players finished with nine or more points and six collected six or more rebounds.
• The Mavericks' starting lineup featured four new players.
• Junior
Rayanna Carter scored a team-high 17 points with four rebounds and two steals.
• Senior
Kalen Phillips tied a career-high with 14 points and set a career-best with seven rebounds.
• Freshman
Elena Pilakouta added 12 points, seven boards, four assists and a blocked shot.
• Freshman
Mariah Murdie chipped in nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Omaha finished 12-16 last season and placed seventh in The Summit League with a mark of 3-11.
• The Mavericks qualified for the Summit League Championship for the third straight season.
• UNO returns six letterwinners, including one starter, and a red shirt from last season.
• Omaha welcomes seven newcomers, including three juniors and four freshmen.
• The Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll picked Omaha to finish eighth this season.
Scouting the Omaha Mavericks
Omaha is 1-0 after a convincing 96-69 win over USC Upstate last Friday at Baxter Area. The season-opening win was the first time since the 2015-16 season the Mavericks have won their season opener.
Rayanna Carter leads the Mavericks in scoring with 17.0 points per game. Five other Mavericks scored in double-digits in the opener.
Mariah Murdie leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots with 8.0 and 2.9 per game, respectively.
Elena Pilakouta averages a team-best 3.0 assists per game.
Omaha held the rebounding advantage 56-25, and forced USC Upstate into 17 turnovers while committing 16. UNO also blocked six shots. The Mavericks shot 49.3 percent (35-of-71) from the floor, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from 3-point distance and 73.3 percent (22-of-30) from the free throw line.
Head coach Brittney Lange is in her six-year leading the Omaha women's basketball program and has a 66-80 career record.
Scouting the Kansas State Wildcats
• Monday's game is the season opener for Kansas State. The Wildcats have an eight-game winning streak in season-openers.
• K-State won both exhibition games, defeating Fort Hays State, 48-46, and Pittsburg State, 65-50.
• The Wildcats' roster features six players that have yet to play a game in Bramlage Coliseum.
• There are four true freshmen and a pair of transfers in Sarah Bates and Jasauen Beard.
• Kansas State was slotted for an eighth-place finish by the Big 12 coaches in the 2018-19 preseason poll.
• Last season, K-State finished the 2017-18 season tied for seventh.
• Head coach Jeff Mittie is in his fifth season at K-State with a record of 79-54 and holds a 533-289 mark in 27 seasons.
Series History
Kansas State leads the all-time series with Omaha 4-0 and holds a 2-0 mark in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats topped the Mavericks 81-60 on Nov. 13, 2017, in Manhattan.
Up Next
Omaha returns to action on Friday, Nov. 16, against C-SUN. Tipoff from Baxter Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Social Media Shout Outs
Fans are encouraged to connect with the women's basketball team on Facebook (OmahaWBB), Instagram (@OmahaWBB) and Twitter (@OmahaWBB). Supporters also are encouraged to use #EveryoneForOmaha in social media posts.
