OMAHA, Neb. - In the opening game of the their 2023-24 season, the Omaha Mavericks fell 59-105 to the Illinois State Redbirds. 

Leaders For Omaha
Seven different Mavericks scored today, led by freshman Cora Olsen and senior Katie Keitges with 10 points each. Olsen collected four field goals (4-of-8) and two free throws (2-of-3). She also paced the team with five rebounds. Keitges secured four field goals (4-of-8) and two three-pointers (2-of-5). Alison Stephens, Ana Nikulochkina, and Aaliyah Stanley all picked up one 3-point FG, while Stanley also logged one block and Grace Cave led with two assists. 
 
Leaders for Illinois State
DeAnna Wilson totaled 19 points on six field goals (6-of-12), one 3-point FG, and six free throws. Kate Bullman led the Redbirds with 12 rebounds and four assists and Maya Wong logged 17 points from four 3-point FG (4-of-5). 

Team Stats
Omaha shot 32.2% (19-of-59) to Illinois State's 57.7% (47-of-71). Though the Redbirds came out on top in three-pointers (40%, 10-25) the Mavericks followed closely behind (29.4%, 5-17). Omaha was also beaten in rebounds 48-25. The Mavericks did lead in free-throws (84.2%, 16-19 vs. 76.5%, 13-17)

Career Firsts
All three Maverick freshman not only played in tonight's game but they would all go on to record their first career points. 

Inside the First Quarter
The Mavericks struggled in the first quarter, falling behind early 0-18. Keitges got the first basket of the season, behind the arc at 5:03. Freshman Cora Olsen got her first career points with a layup in the paint with 2:18 left. 

As for the Redbirds, two different players picked up a three-point FG in the first, Maya Wong recording three, capping off the 32 points to end the quarter. The first quarter was the most prolific for the Mavericks as they scored 32 points.
 
Inside the Second Quarter
Cave got an early jumper in the second to set the pace. Freshman Lucy Ghaifan entered the game at 7:43, going on to score her first career points with a  layup. Ghaifan, on a roll from her first basket, followed up with a rebound on the next play. Stanley sunk a three-pointer, then responded with a stolen ball. On the shot following the turnover, Stanley was fouled, allowing her to score two free throws, for five back-to-back points. 

Through the eight minutes of the quart, Omaha held the Redbirds to just eight points. However, with a layup by Daijah Smith at 2:42, Illinois State would go on to score 11 points to close out the half 54-31. 

Inside the Third Quarter
Coming out of the half, the Mavericks had another slow start. It wasn't until 6:39, Kennedi Grant made a layup giving Omaha another two points. Olsen and Morgann Gardner would go on to score two field goals each during the third, and Olsen racked on an extra point with an and-one. 

The third quarter opened in the Redbirds favor as they racked up 13 points in the first five minutes. The Mavericks held them to just one three-pointer in the quarter.
 
Inside the Fourth Quarter
The Mavericks fell five more points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but Grant secured two points off free throws. Just over a minute later, Grant would make two more back-to-back free throws. Ana Nikulochkina sunk five back-to-back points off two free throws and a three-pointer. Freshman Alison Stephens made an assist on Nikulochkina's three-pointer, followed by a rebound that led to her first career basket, which happened to be a three-pointer. 

In the end, however, it would be the Redbirds who managed to reach the century mark for the first time since 2006. Savannah McGowan capped the night off with two free throws at 0:41. 

Next Up
The Mavericks will return to Baxter Arena this Wednesday for a  mid-week match against the College of Saint Mary's Flames for a 7 p.m. tip-off.