South Dakota SD 11-17,5-9 Summit League

Omaha UNO 12-15,4-10 Summit League

South Dakota SD

11-17,5-9 Summit League

Final

Feb. 20, 2025

Omaha UNO

12-15,4-10 Summit League

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
South Dakota SD	11	17	14	15	57
Omaha UNO	14	15	20	22	71

Summary
Box Score

Jaelle Johnson/Omaha Athletics

Ja Harvey's 34 points against USD are the most by a Maverick since 2015

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | Feb 20, 2025

Mavs seniors rise to occasion in home finale win over South Dakota

Ja Harvey and Grace Cave combine for 54 points in win

OMAHA, Neb. - The surging Mavericks finished their home slate with an impressive 71-57 women's basketball win over South Dakota, paced by outstanding efforts from their five seniors, playing at Baxter Arena for the last time.

The Mavericks (12-15, 4-10) have now won three of their last four Summit League games, with two remaining at North Dakota and North Dakota State to close out the regular season.

Senior Ja Harvey made four of seven three-pointers en route to a career-high 34 points, to go with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. The 34-point effort was the highest for Omaha this season and equals the most scored by a Maverick since Mikaela Shaw poured in 38 at North Dakota State ten years ago (2/14/15). Aaliyah Stanley also scored 34 points at Kansas City (12/31/22). Fellow senior Grace Cave played all 40:00 for Omaha, going 5-10 from the field and 10-10 from the free throw line for 20 points to go with three rebounds, five assists, four steals and one blocked shot. It was Cave's seventh 20+ point performance of the season.

Another senior, Aaliyah Moore, grabbed 19 rebounds - including 17 on the defensive end - as the Mavericks limited South Dakota (11-17, 5-9) to zero second chance points. Moore's 19 rebounds are the most in a Summit League game this season for any player, and are the most in Omaha's Division I history, surpassing teammate Harriet Ford (and two others) who had 18 in the Mavs' last game against Denver. The 19 rebounds rank sixth all-time for the Mavericks. The freshman Ford was the only other Maverick to play significant minutes (18:53), grabbing six rebounds and scoring six points.

The other two seniors turned in memorable efforts. Morgann Gardner had six points, but her fast break bucket off a steal and assist from Harvey punctuated the final score at 71-57. Katie Keitges failed to score, but the fifth year player logged more than 36 minutes and coach Carrie Banks sang her praises after the game.

"She's our solid anchor on defense... the quarterback on the defensive end, talking and directing traffic," Banks said. "My message to them after the game was 'February and March are why we play'... we're picking some momentum back up at the right time of year."

With Keitges leading the determined effort to slow down South Dakota's scoring leader Grace Larkins, the Mavs were able to limit her to 13 points on 5 of 14 shooting. Larkins scored 45 points against Omaha the first time the two teams met. Alexi Hempe was 6 of 11 from three-point range, leading the Coyotes with 20 points.

Harvey was on the throttle for the Mavericks in the first quarter. She scored all of Omaha's points in the opening frame, including three of four three-pointers, as the Mavs led 14-11 after one. The Mavericks were outscored in the second quarter, but still led 29-28 at half. Omaha then put together their best-shooting half of the league campaign after the break, making 15 of 25 shots from the floor. At 6:56 of the third following a Ford rebound, Keitges assisted Moore on a bucket that gave Omaha their largest lead of the game, 59-42 (17 points).

Omaha closes out the regular season with games at North Dakota (February 27) and North Dakota State (March 1) before playing in the Summit League Championship tournament (March 9-12).

Mavericks games can be heard live on the Omaha Sports Network from Learfield via The Varsity Network (app and website), as well as over-the-air in the Omaha market on 1180 AM. Brent Weber is the play-by-play voice for Mavericks women's basketball. Broadcasts begin with the FNBO Pregame Show approximately 15:00 before tip-off.

All Summit League games are televised on the Summit League Network.

Links to radio, TV and stats can be found on the schedule page at OMavs.com.

Connect with Omaha women's basketball on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram (@OmahaWBB).

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