KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Freshman
Regan Juenemann scored a career-best 27 points for the second game in a row and the Omaha women led with less than two minutes left before falling to Kansas City 61-59 in their Summit League opener Wednesday night.
In a game that featured seven lead changes and 10 ties, Omaha (2-14, 0-1 Summit) took a 58-57 lead on a
Leekaya Burke Perryman (Colorado Springs, Colo.) free throw with 1:33 remaining.
But Kansas City made field goals on its next two possessions for a three-point lead. After Omaha's graduate
Sarai Estupiñan (Cedar Park, Texas) was fouled with 1.9 seconds left, she made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second. Kansas City (4-10, 1-0 Summit), though, got the rebound and ran out the clock.
Omaha head coach
Jamie Carey said she was proud of her team's effort, but it needs to learn how to win close games when put in those situations.
The matchup was close from the start. There were six ties and three lead changes in the first quarter before Omaha began the second quarter with a 10-0 run.
Juenemann (Crosby, Minn.), who went 10 of 13 from the field, capped that run with a 3-pointer with 7:50 left in the first quarter as the Mavs led 25-15.
Omaha took a 31-28 lead to halftime and was up 35-30 early in the third quarter on an Estupiñan jumper.
Kansas City responded with a 11-0 run over the next three minutes as it led 46-40 early in the fourth quarter.
But Omaha bounced back with an 11-4 run, taking a 51-50 lead on a Juenemann three with 5:25 left. There were three ties and three lead changes after Juenemann's 3-pointer.
An Estupiñan layup gave Omaha a 57-55 lead with 2:40 left before Burke Perrymann's free throw at the 1:33 mark. That was Omaha's last lead.
Juenemann and Burke Perrymann combined for 41 points off the bench as Burke Perrymann scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Estupiñan added 13 points and nine assists, while freshman
Avril Smith (Omaha, Neb.) grabbed 10 rebounds.
Overall, Kansas City outrebounded Omaha 40-27 and held a 32-14 advantage on points in the paint.
Omaha returns for its league home opener at 4 p.m. CT Saturday against South Dakota State on the Summit League Network. Tickets are available at
OMavs.com/Tickets or by calling 402-554-MAVS.
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