Mavs Host Cornell in Division I Showdown
Jan 5, 2012 | General, Women's Basketball
Live Webcast
Live Stats
Nebraska Omaha vs. Cornell
Saturday, Jan. 7 • 1 p.m.
Omaha, Neb. - Sapp Fieldhouse (2,500)
Series Record: First Meeting
The UNO women's basketball team (9-6) returns to Omaha for its first home game against a fellow Division I opponent on Saturday, as the Mavericks host Cornell at 1 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse. Links to live stats and live video with Robert Ford on the call will be available on OMavs.com.
The matchup with Cornell (4-7) marks the first between the two schools and UNO's first-ever game against an Ivy League school. Cornell is in the midst of a Summit League road trip, as it travels to Vermillion, S.D. to take on South Dakota Monday night. UNO is unbeaten on its home floor this year with a perfect 6-0 record. The Mavs are coming off an 81-54 loss at Saint Louis on Tuesday, while Cornell most recently earned a 40-39 win at Fordham on Monday.
Sapp Fieldhouse has never before hosted a women's basketball game between two Division I opponents. The last time a Division I team played the Mavericks at the Sapp Fieldhouse was Jan. 2, 1988, when Creighton beat UNO 90-76. The NCAA created the "Division I" designation in 1973, when schools previously under the "University Division" (major college) label were classified under the new name.
Series History
Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools. It also marks UNO's first-ever game against an Ivy League school.
Last Time Out
SAINT LOUIS - The UNO women's basketball team dropped an 81-54 loss at Saint Louis last Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.
Three Mavericks finished in double figures - Jamie Nash had 12, Heather Pohl had 10, and Paige Frauendorfer had 10 points and 12 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
The Mavericks (9-6) shot 31.1 percent (19-of-61) from the field, including 3-of-19 from 3-point range (15.8 percent).
UNO was only down six at halftime, 29-23, but the Billikens sprinted past the Mavs in the second half, 52-31. The 52 points was the most allowed in a half by the Mavericks this season.
Saint Louis (6-9) shot 43.1 percent (31-of-72) from the field and 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from 3-point range.
Desirae Ball led the Billikens with 16 points. Courtney Webb had 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Coaches
Chance Lindley is in his first year as the Mavericks' head coach. The 35-year-old Lindley comes to UNO from Arizona, where he was an assistant for three years. Lindley's first collegiate head coaching gig came at Barton County Community College, where he went 34-4 in 2007-08 before moving on to Arizona. Lindley graduated cum laude from Wichita State in 2000 with a degree in physical education.
Dayna Smith is in her 10th year as the head coach at Cornell. Smith is 89-167 at the school and in her career. Smith graduated from Rhode Island in 1996. Smith is assisted by Val Klopfer, Kharmen Wingard and Katie Schlein.
Scouting the Opponents
Cornell is 4-7 on the season and is coming off a 40-39 win at Fordham on Monday. The Big Red are led by two players who average double-digits, Clare Fitzpatrick (10.9 ppg) and Allyson DiMagno (10.7 ppg). Both also lead the team in rebounding with 7.1 boards per game each. Cornell averages just 55.8 points per game on offense, but the Big Red possess a stingy defense, allowing opponents just 60.5 points per game.
Paint Producing Results
The Mavericks are 9-0 this year when winning the battle in the paint and are 0-6 when not outscoring their opponents in the lane. During a four-game winning streak in early December, the Mavericks dominated play in the paint, posting a combined 156-46 advantage for an average of 39.0-10.6 per game.
Battling on the Boards
The Mavericks are 8-0 this year when outrebounding their opponent, and UNO has won the battle on the boards in all six home games so far this season. UNO is 1-6 when not outrebounding its opponent.
Scanning the National Stats
Because of its reclassification period, Nebraska Omaha cannot be included in the official NCAA statistics during its first year in Division I. However, with 5.1 steals per game, Jamie Nash would rank second in Division I in that category. Quinnipiac's Felicia Barron leads the nation with 5.4 steals per game. The Mavs as a team average 12.8 steals per game, which would rank tied for 18th in the country.
Clamping Down on 'D'
The Chance Lindley era is still young, but already the Mavericks are showing improvements on last year's final defensive numbers. The Mavericks are allowing opponents 61.0 points per game, which is more than 10 points better than last year's 71.3 average. UNO is also holding opponents to 26.9 percent from long distance. That's a significant upgrade from last year, when UNO's opponents shot 35.8 percent from 3-point range and the Mavs finished last in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Winning Numbers
Sixty has been the magic number so far for the Mavericks. When holding opponents under 60 points, the Mavericks are 7-1. And when scoring more than 60 points, the Mavericks are 9-1. UNO has fallen in all six games that its trailed with five minutes to play. But UNO has played well with a lead this season. The Mavericks are 7-0 when leading at halftime and are 9-0 when tied or leading with five minutes left in regulation.
Record Seekers
Senior forward Heather Pohl and junior guard Jamie Nash are climbing the charts in UNO women's basketball history. Pohl ranks tied for fourth in school history with 142 career 3-point field goals. She needs just 14 more to move into sole possession of third place. Pohl also moved into the top 10 in school history for career offensive rebounds at Loyola Chicago on Dec. 18. Pohl now has 148 career offensive boards to rank seventh all-time.
Meanwhile, Nash ranks fourth in school history with 237 career steals. She needs seven more to take sole possession of third place and 28 to move into second place. The school record is 331, set by Kriss Edwards from 1977-81. Nash also entered the top 10 this season in career assists with 302, which ranks her seventh.
Mavericks Reclassify to Division I
Nebraska Omaha announced in March 2011 its plan to reclassify from NCAA Division II to Division I, beginning with the 2011-12 school year. UNO, which was previously a member of the MIAA, accepted an invitation to join The Summit League and will compete as a full-fledged member with a regular-season conference schedule in 2012-13.
Next Up for the Mavericks
UNO turns around to host Dallas Christian on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
