KANSAS CITY, MO. - Senior Grace Cave scored a career-high 29 points and freshman Harriet Ford earned her third double-double of the season as the Mavericks snapped a nine-game slide with a 65-56 win at Kansas City.
The Summit League victory at the Swinney Center was the first on the road for the Mavericks (10-14, 2-9) this season, propelling them into a three-game homestand, their last games at Baxter Arena this season, with a win.
Cave moves into 16th on the all-time scoring list for Omaha women's basketball with 1,184 career points. With two assists against the Roos, Cave has 310 as a Maverick, four short of equaling the school's Division I career mark held by Mikayla Shaw (314).
The win helped the Mavs exact a measure of revenge from the Roos (10-15, 6-4), who rallied from five points down two weeks ago in Omaha for a 66-65 win. Ja Harvey, who missed the earlier meeting with an injury, delivered 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists to give the Mavericks three players in double figures. Ford played a season-high 32 minutes, grabbing a career-best and team season-high 17 rebounds to go along with 12 points for the double-double.
The Roos built an early seven point lead before an Omaha timeout was followed by a 9-0 run. Grace Cave converted a three-point play after being fouled and then hit a three-point shot before Ja Harvey completed the run with a three-pointer of her own to give Omaha their first lead. The Mavericks limited their turnovers on offense (12), ultimately leading after each quarter in the game. The Mavs closed the third and opened the fourth on a 10-0 run, capped by sophomore Alana Powell's jumper to make the game 54-45 Omaha, a lead they would not relinquish. Powell finished weith 4 points and 2 assists. Fifth-year Katie Keitges pitched in with an import all-around effort (4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 points).
The game included a painful moment late in the second period when Omaha junior Lauren Perry and Kansas City's Lisa Thomas collided hard near the Omaha basket. Perry was carried off the floor with a leg injury and Thomas did not return after hitting her head on the floor.
Kansas City had three players in double figures, Elauni Bennett (15), her twin sister Emani (10) and Kelby Bannerman (12).
Omaha plays their final three home games of the season at Baxter Arena, starting Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT against the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles. They host the Denver Pioneers Saturday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m. CT.. Saturday's game is the Pink Game, raising awareness in the fight against breast cancer, as well as Senior Day. Their final home game of the 2024-2025 season is Thursday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. CT. Tickets for all Mavericks home games can be purchased online at OMavs.com/Tix or at the Baxter Arena box office.
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).
