OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team lifts the lid on its 2018-19 campaign on Friday night when it hosts USC-Upstate. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
From the Baseline
• 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.
• Head coach Brittney Lange enters her sixth season at the helm of the Omaha program with a career mark of 65-80.
Scouting the Omaha Mavericks
• Sophomore
Claire Killian started 16 games last season as a true freshman, averaging 8.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
• Senior
Kalen Phillips started 12 games, averaging 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
• Senior
Alicia Mountain started 10 games, averaging 2.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
• Other returners are
Emily Petersen (So., G) and
Romekia Wallace (Sr., F).
• Redshirt freshman
Kylee Coulter returns to action after redshirting in 2017-18.
• The Mavericks welcome seven newcomers in juniors
Rayanna Carter (G),
Juliana Chagas (G) and
Andi Pierce (F), and freshmen
Josie Filer (F),
Sophie Johnston (G),
Mariah Murdie (G) and
Elena Pilakouta (C).
Scouting the USC-Upstate Trojans
• USC-Upstate is 0-1 on the season after falling 96-45 on Tuesday evening against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
• The Spartans enter their first season in the Big Sun Conference and were picked to finish in ninth place in the Preseason Poll.
• The Spartans return eight letterwinners from last season including three starters in Anda Kuzmina (So., G), Riley Popplewell (Jr., C) and Rylie Parkhurst (Jr., G).
• USC Upstate also welcomes five newcomers consisting of three freshmen and two juniors.
• Last season, USC-Upstate finished 11-19 overall and finished fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 6-8 record.
• Head coach Tammy George is in her 14th year as the head coach of the USC-Upstate women's basketball program with a record of 176-216 and a 219-237 mark in 16 total seasons.
Tracking the Trojans
• No. 1 Brianna Lewis (Jr., G) scored a team-high 17 points on Tuesday. Lewis grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists. Last season, she played at Eastern Florida State College and averaged 12.8 points and 7.6 assists per game. Started her career at Texas Southern.
• Michaela Gibbons (So., F) scored six points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field, including two 3-pointers.
• Bailey Wensler (Sr., G) added six points and two rebounds off the bench in 11 minutes
• Kathryn Kirkwood (Fr., F) scored six points on 2-of-4 shooting.
• Riley Popplewell contributed two points, five boards and two blocks.
• DeNisha Swain (Sr., G) registered four steals, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Series History
Omaha leads the series history 1-0 against USC-Upstate. The Mavericks defeated the Spartans 69-66 last season in Spartanburg, S.C.
Up Next
Omaha makes its road debut on Monday, Nov. 12, against Kansas State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.
