OMAHA, Neb.- Despite the second straight double-double from freshman
Harriet Ford to highlight a dominating bench performance, Omaha couldn't quiet the top two scorers from Western Illinois in the Leathernecks' 89-83 win at Baxter Arena.
Omaha center
Harriet Ford (Perth, Western Australia) scored 18 points with 13 rebounds and the Mavericks bench outscored Western Illinois' 41-2. But defending Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Reagan McCowen scored 35 points and junior transfer (St. Louis University) Mia NiCastro added 27 points as the Leathernecks outlasted the Mavericks.
The Mavericks had four players in double figures in addition to Ford. Senior
Grace Cave led Omaha in scoring with 20 points, adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Sophomore
Cora Olsen (Omaha/Millard South) scored 12 points on 4-6 shooting with two three pointers, but foul trouble kept her sidelined much of the second half. Freshman
Kyana Weir (Perth, Western Australia) had 11 points and two assists. Sophomore
Ali Stephens (Fort Wayne, Indiana) once again found her long-range stroke, hitting 2-4 threes in an 8 point effort. Her 8 three pointers this season (8-14) already eclipse last season's total (3-21).
Omaha led by as many as eight points in the second quarter, and thanks to their defensive pressure, held a 44-42 lead at the half. But the Leathernecks took better care of the basketball after intermission with three second half turnovers to ten for the Mavericks, scoring 10 second half points off of those TOs.
The Mavericks play next in Lawrence, Kansas Thursday night (11/4) at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on The Zone 2 (1180 am) and via the Varsity Network app. Brent Weber has play-by-play beginning with the pre-game show at 6:15 p.m. Links to the broadcasts as well as LiveStats can be found on the OMavs.com schedule page. The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Omaha then travels to Wisconsin 11/23 before returning to Baxter Arena for one home game before Thanksgiving, 11/26 versus Utah State. Tickets to all Mavericks home games can be found at OMavs.com/tix.
