Denver, Colo. - The Omaha Mavericks fall to the Denver Pioneers 81-63 in the Summit League conference opener. 

Omaha falls to a 4-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play. 

Leaders For Omaha
Omaha was led by Aaliyah Stanley and Kennedi Grant who both put up 20 points in tonight's game. Polina Nikulochkina and Grace Cave paced with six rebounds each, and P. Nikulochkina led with three assists. 
 
Leaders for DU
Pacing the Pioneers was Jordan Jones with 23 points and just behind her was Emma Smith with 20. Jones scored a double-double with 20 points and a team-high 16 rebounds. Four different Pioneers notched four assists. 

Team Stats
The Mavericks trailed in field goals (36.4%, 24-of-66 vs. 53.6%, 30-of-56) and three-pointers 31.3% (5-of-16) vs. 48.1% (13-of-27). Though trailing in field goals, Omaha led free throws 76.9% (10-of-13) to 66.7% (8-of-12).  

Inside the First Quarter
The Mavericks got the game started with the first basket by Deanay Watson at 9:19. On the following possession, Aaliyah Stanley sunk back-to-back baskets, starting with a three-pointer and then a driving layup. After putting the Mavericks up by five, Omaha fell behind by six after being held scoreless for nearly three minutes. 

After trailing the Mavericks in the first three minutes, the Pioneers turned it around after taking the lead at 6:47 with a jumper behind the arc. Denver played good defense holding the Mavericks to just 18 points in the first. 
 
Inside the Second Quarter
Grace Cave had a quick jumper at 9:22 in the second. Though starting the scoring in the second early, Omaha didn't score again at 7:18 when Grant sunk a pair at the charity stripe. Omaha had their closest margin of 14 points in the second after P. Nikulochkina made a fast break layover at 2:59. 

Denver held Omaha to another 18 points in the second, to lead at the half, 52-36. Emily Counsel put up eight points in the second, going 3-of-4 on field goal attempts. Denver shot a 50% in all three categories. 


Inside the Third Quarter
The scoring got off to a slow start for both teams as Omaha wouldn't score the first basket until 8:25. Omaha played an impressive defensive game in the third, holding Denver to just eight points, a .25% field goal percent (3-of-12) and 0-of-6 on three-pointers. Though playing well defensively to chip away the deficit Omaha only scored 16 points, being led by Grant with seven. 

Denver allowed the Mavericks to shoot 53.8% (7-of-13) in the third to get them within eight points at the end of the quarter.  Jordan Jones only scored four points in the third and made two turnovers. 

Inside the Fourth Quarter
The Mavericks, after chipping away the lead to eight, had their lowest scoring period of 11 points to close the game. Omaha made only 4-of-19 field goals and 2-of-8 three-pointers. Stanley did record her first block of the season against Angelina Robles. 

After a tough third quarter, the Pioneers found a second wind of scoring and pulled out all the stops on defense. Jones scored 11 of the 21 points and made five rebounds in the fourth to polish off her double-double. 

Next Up
The Omaha Mavericks will return home to Baxter this Sunday, Dec. 31 to close out the year with a game against South Dakota at 2 p.m.