SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Eighth-seeded Omaha saw its season come to an end Thursday afternoon as the Mavericks lost 87-37 to top-seeded North Dakota State in the quarterfinal of the Summit League Women's Basketball Championship.
Junior
Ali Stephens (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and freshman
Regan Juenemann (Crosby, Minn.) led Omaha with eight points apiece, while freshman
Avril Smith (Omaha, Neb.) chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.
Omaha was playing its second game in less than 24 hours as the Mavericks knocked off North Dakota 49-39 on Wednesday.
And early Thursday, Omaha got off to a better start than it had during the regular season against the Bison.
The Mavericks traded baskets with NDSU in the first quarter as Omaha was within 15-11 when Stephens hit two free throws with 1:12 left. A 3-pointer by Stephens with 4:40 left in the first half brought Omaha within 28-16.
But it was all Bison after that. North Dakota State finished the first half on a 13-2 run to lead 41-19 at halftime, then the Bison scored the first 18 points of the third quarter.
The Bison (27-3), who have lost just once since Nov. 16, shot 50.8 percent from the field and outrebounded the Mavericks 45-20.
Omaha, whose eight-player rotation this season included five freshmen, finishes 6-27 during
Jamie Carey's first season as coach. Omaha did go 4-5 over its last nine games.
"These kids have grown so much," Carey said of her young team prior to the tournament. "I'm proud of them for that."
Smith finishes her freshman season with 380 rebounds. She's fifth in Division I in total rebounds. Her performance today sealed a program single-season record in rebounds. Smith surpassed Barb Hart, who set the program record in 1978-79 with 378 rebounds.
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