SAINT CHARLES, MO. - The Omaha Mavericks used a balanced attack and aggressive defense to beat Lindenwood University 73-66 Saturday at Hyland Arena, Omaha's sixth straight win. The streak is the second-longest in Omaha's DI Era (2011-present), one shy of a seven game streak in November/December of 2017. Omaha's all-time longest win streak is 10 games, achieved twice (11/17/2005-12/29/2005 and 2/3/1982-2/27/1982).
Omaha was led by senior
Ja Harvey, who scored a Mavericks career high 19 points with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Sophomore
Cora Olsen scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half and finished with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior
Lauren Perry had a career-high 11 points on 5-7 shooting, including 1 three-pointer. Senior
Grace Cave had 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
With 992 career points, Cave is 8 shy of becoming the 29th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. Most impressively, Cave would be the fourth to do so exclusively in Omaha DI history.
In the first meeting between the schools in women's basketball, Omaha closed out the first half on a 15-3 run to take a nine point lead to intermission, 38-29. Omaha (7-4, 0-0 Summit League) outrebounded (37-32) and outshot the Lions (4-5, 0-0 Ohio Valley Conference) from the floor (45.3% to 42.4%), and the Mavericks dominated at the free throw line, making 22 of 23 (95.7%) compared to 10 of 19 (52.6%) for Lindenwood. Their defense created offense, as Omaha scored 20 points off turnovers (10 for LU) and led in fast break points 16-6.
At 7-4, the Mavericks are off to their best start under fifth-year head coach
Carrie Banks.
Lindenwood dropped their fourth straight game. The Lions were led by Bellevue, Nebraska sophomore Mya Skoff and senior Justis Odom with 16 points each.
Omaha plays their final home game of the calendar year Wednesday against Bellevue University at 6:00 p.m. CT at Sapp Fieldhouse on the school's Dodge Street Campus. The game can be heard beginning with the FNBO pre-game show at 5:45 p.m. CT on the Omaha Mavericks Network (KZOT 1180 The Zone) as well as The Varsity Network app from Learfield. Brent Weber is the play-by-play voice of Mavericks women's basketball. All Mavericks home games are telecast via the Summit League Network. Links are available on the schedule page at OMavs.com.
Omaha closes out the non-league portion of the schedule Sunday, 12/22 in Norman, Oklahoma against the 10th ranked Sooners. After a break for Christmas and the New Year, the Mavericks open Summit League play Thursday, January 2nd at Baxter Arena against the University of North Dakota.
Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.
