OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball team returns to the road this week, visiting North Dakota on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D.
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. The game also will be broadcast on YurView Cox Channel 1013, Midco and ESPN+.
The Opening Tip
• Omaha snapped a five-game losing streak Sunday afternoon after it defeated North Dakota State 78-61 at Baxter Arena.
•
Rayanna Carter and
Claire Killian scored 16 points each to lead the Mavericks.
•
Mariah Murdie chipped in 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
• The Mavericks shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the field, including hitting a season-best 10 3-pointers.
• UNO also converted 94.7 percent (10-11) at the free throw line.
•
Josie Filer and
Elena Pilakouta each rank in the top 10 in The Summit League in rebounding. Filer ranks third with 7.8 rebounds per game, while Pilakouta is eighth with 5.9 boards per game.
• The Mavericks have assisted on 182 of its 331 made field goals this season.
• Three Mavericks are averaging 9.0 points per game or more this season:
Claire Killian (10.5 ppg),
Rayanna Carter (10.3 ppg) and
Elena Pilakouta (9.0 ppg).
• Omaha holds the opposition to 63.1 points per game, second lowest in The Summit League.
• UNO limits the opposition to a 39.7 shooting percentage from the floor, third lowest in the league.
• The Mavericks rank second in the league in opponent's 3-point percentage (30.6 pct.) and points per game allowed (58.3 ppg).
• Omaha is in the top three in the league in three different rebounding categories – offensive (12.1 – 3rd), total rebounds per game (38.3 – 4th) and rebound margin per game (2.6 – 4th).
• 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 Wednesday's game with a 6-9 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the Summit League. Last time out, UNO defeated North Dakota State 78-61 on Sunday afternoon at Baxter Arena.
Rayanna Carter and
Claire Killian each scored a game-high 16 points, while
Mariah Murdie added 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Killian paces the Mavericks offensively, averaging 10.5 points and 1.4 steals per game. Carter averages 10.1 points and 1.9 assists per game.
Elena Pilakouta adds 9.0 points, 1.9 assists and 0.9 blocks per game.
As a team, Omaha averages 60.5 points and 38.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 39.0 percent (331-849) from the floor. The Mavericks shoot 30.6 percent (79-258) from 3-point distance and 70.3 percent (166-236) from the free throw line. Defensively, UNO gives up 63.1 points and 35.7 rebounds per contest. The opposition is limited to shooting 39.7 percent (357-900) from the field and 30.6 percent (113-369) from long range.
Scouting the North Dakota Fighting Hawks
North Dakota enters Wednesday's contest with a 7-9 overall record and a 2-1 Summit League mark after dropping an 87-66 decision at Denver last Saturday. Jill Morton scored a team-best 15 points while Lexi Klabo and Alaina Jarnot each added 13.
Lexi Klabo, a two-time Summit League Player of the Week honoree, leads the Fighting Hawks with 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Additionally, the Summit League named Klabo the December Female Athlete of the Month. Jill Morton adds 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
The Bison average 64.1 points and 38.5 rebounds per game this season. North Dakota State shoots a collective 39.2 percent (358-913) from the field, 24.8 percent (61-246) from 3-point range and 72.0 percent (249-346) from the free throw line. Defensively, they give up 69.5 points and 34.9 rebounds per game.
Series History
Wednesday is the 59th all-time meeting between Omaha and North Dakota dating back to 1977. UND leads the all-time series 49-9 and have won the last 10 meetings. The Fighting Hawks hold a 2-0 series advantage in the D1 era after topping the Mavericks 67-52 on Nov. 17, 2015, in Grand Forks, N.D.
Up Next
Omaha continues its road swing on Wednesday, Jan. 16 with a visit to Western Illinois at 7 p.m. in Macomb, Ill. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
