Omaha, Neb. - The Omaha women's basketball team saw its final contest of 2023 at home against the South Dakota Coyotes.
After a challenging four quarters and one overtime, the Mavericks dropped the game, 77-71.
The team is now 4-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Leaders For Omaha
Omaha's scoring was led by
Grace Cave who paced with 17 points and with nine rebounds was short just one of a double-double. Also hitting double-digits in tonight's game were
Aaliyah Stanley (15),
Kennedi Grant (12), and
Polina Nikulochkina (11). Cave also led with five assists and two blocks. Cave went 5-of-8 on field goals and 4-of-7 behind the arc.
Leaders for South Dakota
South Dakota was boosted to victory with Grace Larkins's 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. Kendall Holmes put up 18 along with Tori DePerry who also notched double-digits with 12. Pacing the Coyotes in assists was Matalie Mazurek with three.
Team Stats
Omaha was out-shot on field goals 37.9% (24-of-64) to USD's 41.9% (26-of-62). Behind the arc, the Mavericks shot a 30.8% (8-of-26) to the Coyotes 34.6% (9-of-26). In a rare turn of events, Omaha was out-shot on free throws (68.2%, 15-of-22 vs. 88.9% 16-of-18).
Inside the First Quarter
The Mavericks earned the first basket of the game at 9:20 thanks to
Aaliyah Stanley. Stanley went back-to-back and claimed the next two points for the Mavericks on a jumper to take the lead. The score continued to climb with Omaha going on a 6-point run to end the first.
South Dakota put pressure on the Mavericks going back-and-fourth with the lead until 3:29 when Omaha took over. Grace Larkins contributed nine of the 17 points in the first quarter. On the field, the Coyotes shot a 63.6% going 7-of-11.
Inside the Second Quarter
With UNO leading 20-17 to start the second,
Morgann Gardner drained a three to widen the gap.
Katie Keitges followed with three more from the arc, to give the Mavericks a six-point lead. The Coyotes tried to scratch their way back but sent the Mavericks to the line to shoot. In back-to-back free throws,
Grace Cave and
Polina Nikulochkina collectively went 4-4 at the charity stripe. The Mavericks added 17 points throughout the second to lead 37-34 at the half.
It wasn't until 2:05 that the Coyotes would tie the score with the Mavericks after making two free throws. The Coyotes played good defense, holding Omaha to just 23.1% on the field. The quarter was paced by Holmes with six points.
Inside the Third Quarter
The Coyotes found their ground midway through the third to take the lead 41-40. The Mavericks held their ground and slowly climbed back with Stanley capitalizing on a fast break and then going to line to shoot 2-2. Continuing to stay in foul trouble, the Coyotes sent Cave to the stripe. She added two to the board to finish the third quarter. This was the first quarter the Mavericks trailed, 49-54.
The Coyotes had their highest-scoring quarter, putting up 20 points, and played their best defense, holding Omaha to just 12 points. In the third quarter, USD shot 52.9% on the field, going 9-of-17. Part of their success can be attributed to the zero turnovers, two steals, and two blocks.
Inside the Fourth Quarter
Going into the fourth down by just four the Mavericks got to work. At 9:17 Grant was sent to the line putting up one point. On the second shot, she missed the net, but P. Nikulochkina made an offensive rebound, allowing Stanley to sink a three-point jumper, closing the deficit to just one. Once the Coyotes had the ball back, Cave drew a foul after being tripped. With possession once again Stanley made a hook shot to put the Mavericks up by one. With 2:56 left on the clock, Omaha was up by five after Grant made a layup in the paint. The Coyotes tied it up at the end and attempted a three-pointer at the buzzer but were denied.
After giving up the lead their lead and falling behind by five points, the Coyotes clawed their way back to tie it up with five seconds left to take the game to overtime.
Inside the Overtime
The Mavericks had a strong start to overtime after Grant made a layup at 3:47. After the Coyotes sunk a 3-pointer to tie the game back up at 2:46, the Mavericks ran into foul trouble, sending the Coyotes to the line for three sets of free throws. Making all of them, South Dakota took the lead and beat Omaha in overtime 77-71.
Next Up
The Omaha Mavericks will take the road once again to compete in the Big Sky Challenge at Eastern Washington on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m.
