LINCOLN, Neb.- The young Omaha Mavericks found #23 Nebraska's size and experience too much to handle in the season opener for both women's basketball teams Monday. The Cornhuskers won 88-48 in front of a crowd of more than 3,800 fans in Pinnacle Bank Arena, mostly middle school students from state schools who took part in a tip-off celebration.
The Mavericks finished strong, playing even with Nebraska over the final 15:30 of the game, 31-31, but couldn't make a dent in the Huskers' dominant first half lead. Omaha has ten newcomers on the roster.
Omaha was led by sophomore transfer Alana Powell (Haymarket, Va./CC Baltimore Co.-Essex) with 15 points, two assists and two steals. Preseason All-Summit Second Team guard Grace Cave (Sr, Weeping Willow, Neb.) scored 11 points, nine in the second half.
Sophomore Ali Stephens (Fort Wayne, Indiana) gave the Mavericks a boost off the bench with five points, two rebounds and a steal. Freshman center Harriet Ford (Perth, Western Australia) showed promise with four points and a team-high five rebounds.
Both teams applied defensive pressure throughout, Nebraska turning the ball over 20 times to 24 for Omaha. The Nebraska size difference was evident as the Huskers frequently disrupted shots inside, limiting Omaha to 33% shooting for the game (19-57) with six blocked shots.
Six Nebraska players scored in double figures, led by center Alexis Markowski (14 points, 11 rebounds) and forward Natalie Potts (14 points, six rebounds).
Omaha plays the College of St. Mary Flames Thursday morning at Baxter Arena in their home opener at 11 a.m. The Mavericks are hosting their annual OPS Kids Game at Baxter Arena, with more than 4,600 elementary students from Omaha Public Schools expected to attend.
Tip-off is 11 a.m., with the broadcast beginning at 10:45 a.m. on the Omaha Basketball Network from Learfield (Varsity Network app, 1180 am The Zone 2 Omaha and the Summit League Network). Brent Weber handles playbyplay duties.
The Mavericks then host former Summit League foe Western Illinois University Sunday at 2 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
Tickets for Mavericks home games can be purchased online at OMavs.com/tix. Fans can follow Omaha women's basketball on Facebook (\OmahaWBB), X - aka Twitter (@OmahaWBB) and Instagram (@OmahaWBB).
