Mavs Tip Off Season With Saturday Exhibition
Nov 1, 2013 | Women's Basketball
After an offseason full of change, the Omaha women's basketball team takes to the court for the first time on Saturday when it hosts Lincoln (Mo.) in an exhibition at 2 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse. The contest marks the one and only exhibition for the Mavericks before they begin the regular season on Nov. 8 at Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Teams
The Mavericks enter the season with eight new players, a new head coach and two new assistants. Brittany Lange was named the interim head coach on Oct. 2 after former coach Chance Lindley stepped down for personal reasons. Lange has been on the staff for three years, serving as an assistant coach and director of operations. In addition to Lange, Lee Aduddell is in her first season as an assistant for the Mavs after joining the staff last May. Rodney Rogan is in his first season as an assistant coach after joining the program in October. Director of Operations Elisha Turek will now serve as an assistant coach. Taijhe Kelly is the lone returning starter for UNO, averaging 4.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game as a sophomore. Senior Ericka House is back as well after scoring 9.0 points per game off the bench last season. Cathleen Cox, the third and final returner, is out for the season after tearing her ACL for the second straight season.
Lincoln was an old conference foe when the Mavericks were in the MIAA in the Division II days. The Blue Tigers were 11-16 last year with a 6-12 record in the MIAA. Jackeya Mitchell is the lone returning starter. She averaged 6.3 ppg and 1.6 rpg last year.
Series History
The Mavericks and Lincoln have a history as conference foes when the Mavs were in the MIAA. The Mavs own a 3-1 series edge over the Blue Tigers. The last meeting was Jan. 29, 2011, with Lincoln taking a 73-58 win in Jefferson City, Mo. UNO defeated Lincoln earlier that season, 76-62, in Omaha.
Media
Eleven Maverick home games, including Saturday's exhibition, can be heard live on the radio on KZOT 1180 Zone 2 this season. All 15 home games will be streamed live online at OMavs.com. Jon Green will call all the action, and coverage begins 30 minutes before tipoff. Live webcasts for all home games (including audio) can be purchased at OMavs.com. Live stats are free at OMavs.com for all games.
Up Next
The Mavericks begin the regular season next weekend with a road tirp to the Deep South. The Mavs open at Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 8 and wrap up the trip on Nov. 10 at Alcorn State.
