SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Omaha's growth continues as the Mavericks outlasted the hosts 70-66 in the opening game of the San Diego Thanksgiving Classic. The Mavericks posted back-to-back wins and answered the challenge away from home.
Omaha (3-4, 0-0 Summit League) claimed their first road win of the season as San Diego (2-3) lost for the third straight game.
Senior
Ja Harvey scored 14 points for the third straight game, with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a blocked shot, much to the delight of the 30 friends and family in attendance who came to support the Granite Hills product. Senior
Grace Cave found her shooting touch, scoring 14 points on 3 of 5 three pointers along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Her two free throws with :10 to play secured the win.
Fifth-year
Katie Keitges made 3-5 three-pointers and finished with a season-high 13 points. Omaha hit 7-16 three-pointers for 44% while San Diego was 0-10 from behind the arc.
Senior
Morgann Gardner delivered several big shots, including a three-pointer assisted by Cave with 2:48 to play that put the Mavericks on top 64-62, a lead they would not relinquish. Gardner finished with 7 points, as did sophomore
Alana Powell, playing in front of her parents who made the trip from Virginia for the tournament. Freshman
Harriet Ford came off the bench and grabbed 6 rebounds to go with 5 points.
San Diego had three in double figures, Kylie Horstemeyer (16 pts, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals), Hallie Rhodes (12 pts, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and Courtney Wristen, who had a double-double (11 pts, 13 rebounds).
In game two of the tournament Friday afternoon, Utah Valley beat Alabama A&M 56-54. San Diego meets Alabama A&M in the final game of the Thanksgiving Classic immediately following Omaha's Saturday game against Utah Valley.
The Mavericks finish the San Diego Thanksgiving Classic Saturday, 11/30, against Utah Valley. Tip-off is 4:00 p.m. CT. The Mavericks then travel up the west coast to play Portland State in the Big Sky/Summit Challenge on Wednesday, 12/4, at 9 p.m. CT. All games will be broadcast on KOIL AM/The Varsity app with the FNBO pregame show starting 15:00 before tip-off. Brent Weber is the play-by-play voice of the Mavericks women's basketball team.
The Mavericks return home to Baxter Arena Saturday 12/7 against Sacramento State for a 2 p.m. CT tip-off. Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.
