Omaha, NE. – The Omaha Mavericks outlasted the Northern Colorado Bears Saturday afternoon 48-41 at Baxter Arena. The Mavericks forced 34 Northern Colorado turnovers and Mariah Murdie scored a season-high 21 points in their third win in their last four games.
 
Leaders For Omaha
Murdie led the Mavericks with nine rebounds to go along with her 21 points, with three of those coming on the offensive glass. She's led Omaha in rebounding in six of their nine games this season. Natalie Bartle scored eight for the Mavericks and was a menace on the defensive end recording a career-high five steals.
 
Leaders for Northern Colorado
Alexis Chapman was the lone Bear in double figures with 10 points to go along with her five points. Sabine Lipe chipped in seven points, while Micayla Isenbart paced Northern Colorado with seven boards.
 
Team Stats
Omaha shot 30.6 (15-49) from the field and made their free throws down the stretch in route to an 85 (17-20) percent mark. Northern Colorado also shot 30.6 (15-49) percent from the field. Omaha forced 34 Northern Colorado turnovers, recording 18 steals, which are both season highs for the Mavericks. Northern Colorado had the advantage on the glass hauling in 42 rebounds while holding Omaha to 29.

Inside the First Quarter
Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter, after a Murdie bucket on the opening possession, neither team recorded a basket until Kurstyn Harden made it 2-2 with 5:43 left in the quarter. A Natalie Bartle layup with 51 seconds left would give the Mavericks a 9-8 lead into the second.
 
Inside the Second Quarter
Northern Colorado scored seven straight to start the period, capped by a Chapman layup for the 15-9 lead. A Brooklyn Evans basket at the halftime buzzer gave the Bears a 20-17 lead going into the half.
 
Inside the Third Quarter
Omaha stepped up on defense in the third recording five steals in the quarter. Five points from Murdie and four from Grace Cave would give the Mavericks a 32-29 advantage heading into the final period.
 
Inside the Fourth Quarter
The Mavericks went on a 7-2 run to start the fourth to extend their advantage to eight points. Northern Colorado fought back to lower the Maverick advantage to three after a Lipe three-pointer, but Murdie would respond with two clutch jumpers including one off an in-bounds pass right before the shot clock expired. Omaha made their free throws down the stretch to seal the 48-41 victory.

Next Up
The Mavericks start Summit League play on the road December 20 at St. Thomas before heading to Macomb, Illinois to take on Western Illinois December 22.