Omaha UNO 14-17,5-11 Summit League

South Dakota St. SDSU 27-3,16-0 Summit League

Omaha UNO

14-17,5-11 Summit League

Final

Mar. 06, 2025

South Dakota St. SDSU

27-3,16-0 Summit League

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Omaha UNO	16	8	23	20	67
South Dakota St. SDSU	21	18	22	26	87

Summary
Box Score

Molly Sheppard

Five Mavericks played their final game in tournament loss to SDSU

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | Mar 6, 2025

Omaha's 2024-2025 campaign ends at the hands of No. 25 SDSU in Summit League Championships

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The scrappy Omaha women's basketball squad couldn't overcome a cold-shooting first half, falling to top-seeded No. 25 South Dakota State on the second day of the Summit League Championships in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The eighth-seeded Mavericks (14-17, 6-12), playing less than 24 hours after defeating Denver in a play-in game on Wednesday, fell 87-67 to the Jackrabbits (27-3, 17-0) in the tournament quarterfinal in front of 7,195 in attendance at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. In the day's first quarterfinal, second seed Oral Roberts beat seventh seed South Dakota, 70-50.

The loss ends a season of runs (7-game winning streak in November/December, eight wins equaling their most in the pre-league schedule in Omaha's DI Era) and roster challenges brought on by injury (Omaha used ten different starting lineups in 2024-2025).

"I was just really proud of their fight," head coach Carrie Banks said. "We played against a really, really tough team, and there was no quit at at any point in the game."

Looking at four seniors joining her in the post-game press conference, Banks said, "I'm just really proud and I want you guys to hold your head high today and every single day."

Senior Grace Cave scored 20 points in her final game for Omaha, her 11th game of 20+ scoring this year. She finishes her career with 1,336 points, 12th most in Omaha history and second most in the DI Era. Her 336 assists are seventh all-time and the most in Mavericks DI history. No player has amassed her combination of points and assists in Mavericks history.

Senior Ja Harvey sparked the Mavs early, scoring five of her 17 points in the opening quarter as the Mavericks held their own, trailing 21-16 after one. Both teams struggled to get second shots in the opening half, made critical for Omaha as the Mavericks made just 9 of 34 shots from the field in the opening 20 minutes. SDSU converted 50% in the first half and 58.3% for the game. The Mavericks shot 38.5% fore the game, outrebounded by SDSU, 38-28.

The Mavericks outscored the Jax 23-22 in the third period behind senior Aaliyah Moore's 10 points. She finished with12 points and seven rebounds in her final game with Omaha. But playing with a roster severely limited by injuries, the Mavericks couldn't keep up with the fresh legs and depth of the league's defending champions.

It was the final game for five seniors, Cave, Harvey, Moore, Katie Keitges (three points, two assists, three steals) and Morgann Gardner (three points and four rebounds).

Two players expected to be a large part of Omaha 's future had an impact off the bench. Sophomore Alana Powell had four points and three assists, as the Mavs played their cleanest game of the year in terms of turnovers, committing only five. Freshman Harriet Ford's emergence as one of the league's top post players continued. She made four of seven shots, often guarded by All-Summit League star Brooklyn Meyer, and finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

SDSU had five players in double figures, led by junior Brooklyn Meyer's 16 points to go with a career-high six assists.

You can learn more about the 2024-2025 season at OMavs.com. Information about the Summit League Championships can be found on the Summit League website.

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

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