OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team closes its three-game homestand this Sunday, Jan. 6, welcoming North Dakota State to Baxter Arena at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on YurView Cox Channel 1-13, Midco and ESPN+ with Donny Baarns on play-by-play and former Maverick
Mikaela Shaw providing color commentary. Jon Shriner will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2 and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
The Opening Tip
• Omaha has dropped five straight games heading into Sunday's game. Last time out, UNO fell 71-56 to Oral Roberts at Baxter Arena.
• Junior
Rayanna Carter scored a game-high 19 points, while sophomore
Claire Killian added 15 points.
• UNO has kicked off league play with a three-game homestand against Denver, Oral Roberts and North Dakota State. The last time Omaha has three straight Summit League games at home was Feb. 7-14, 2016.
• Killian became the first Maverick to eclipse the 20-point mark this season with a career-high 21 points against Denver last Friday.
• Freshman
Josie Filer ranks third in The Summit League with 35 offensive rebounds. Filer ranks fourth in defensive boards (74), total rebounds (109) and rebound per game (7.8 rpg).
• The Mavericks have assisted on 169 of its 306 made field goals this season.
• Three Mavericks are averaging 9.0 points per game or more this season:
Claire Killian (10.1 ppg),
Rayanna Carter (9.9ppg) and
Elena Pilakouta (9.1 ppg).
• Omaha holds the opposition to 63.3 points per game, second lowest in The Summit League.
• The Mavericks hold the opposition to a 31.3 shooting from 3-point range (third) and 39.7 percent from the field (fourth).
• The Mavericks rank second in the league in opponent's 3-point percentage (29.3 pct.) and points per game allowed (58.3 ppg).
• As a team, UNO ranks third the league in four different rebounding categories.
• Coaches and members of the media picked Omaha to finish eighth in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Mavericks returned one starter,
Claire Killian, and six letterwinners from last season's team.
• Last season, Omaha finished 12-16 overall and sixth in The Summit League with a mark of 3-11.
• Returning in 2018-19 for UNO are Killian, Wallace,
Jay Bridgeman,
Alicia Mountain,
Emily Petersen and
Kalen Phillips.
•
Kylee Coulter returns to action after redshirting last season.
• The Mavericks welcome six newcomers in Carter and
Juliana Chagas, and freshmen
Josie Filer,
Sophie Johnston,
Mariah Murdie and
Elena Pilakouta.
Getting to Know the Omaha Mavericks
Omaha enters the weekend with a 5-8 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the Summit League. Last time out, the Mavericks fell 71-56 to Oral Roberts at Baxter Arena.
Rayanna Carter scored a game-high 19 points, while
Claire Killian chipped in 15 points.
Claire Killian paces the Mavericks offensively, averaging 10.1 points per game. Killian also averages 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. She has been in double figures in four-straight games and nine times this season.
Rayanna Carter adds 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Josie Filer leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game, while
Elena Pilakouta is the leader with 2.0 assists per game.
As a team, the Mavericks average 59.2 points and 38.4 rebounds per game. Omaha shoots a collective 38.6 percent (306-793) from the field, 29.2 percent (69-236) from 3-point range and 68.2 percent (148-217) percent from the free throw line. Defensively, they give up 63.3 points and 35.9 rebounds per game. The opposition is limited to 39.7 percent (331-833) from the floor and 31.3 percent (108-345) from long range.
Scouting the North Dakota State Bison
North Dakota State enters the weekend with a 4-10 record (1-1 Summit League) after dropping a 67-41 decision at South Dakota last Sunday. Emily Dietz led the Bison with 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Michelle Gaislerova and Rylee Nudell each scored eight points.
Gaislerova averages 15.8 points per game to lead the Bison. She also averages 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Sofija Zivaljevic adds 11.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, while Rylee Nudell adds 9.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Bison average 58.0 points and 33.2 rebounds per game. North Dakota State shoots a collective 40.7 percent (278-683) from the field, 33.3 percent (75-225) from 3-point range and 65.1 percent (123-189) from the free throw line. Defensively, they give up 65.8 points and 34.8 rebounds per game. The opposition shoots 42.8 percent (321-750) from the floor and 32.2 percent (82-255) from long range.
Series History
Sunday will be the 63rd all-time meeting between Omaha and North Dakota State, with the Mavericks trailing the series 44-18. UNO has won four straight in the series, including a 59-57 win in Fargo, N.D., to wrap up the 2017-18 season.
Up Next
Omaha returns to the road on Wednesday, Jan. 9 with a visit to North Dakota at 8 p.m. in Grand Forks, N.D. The game will be broadcast on YurView Cox Channel 1013, MidcoSN2 and ESPN+, and Donny Baarns will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
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 urged to use #EveryoneForOmaha in social media posts.
