Mavs Host Graceland in Home Opener
Nov 13, 2013 | Women's Basketball
The Omaha women's basketball team plays its home opener on Thursday against Graceland at 7 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse. The Mavericks have won seven straight home openers dating back to the 2006-07 season. Thursday's game will air on 1180 Zone 2 and will be streamed online at OMavs.com. Jon Green will have the play-by-play. A live webcast is available for purchase at OMavs.com, while live stats are free and can also be found at OMavs.com.
The Teams
Omaha enters Thursday's game in search of its first win of the season. The Mavericks went on the road last weekend for a pair of games in the Deep South and came away with a pair of hard-fought losses. Last Friday, the Mavs were outdone by Louisiana-Lafayette, 80-68, in a game in which they were within four points midway through the second half. On Sunday, UNO fell at Alcorn State, 50-45, in an offensive struggle. The Mavs had more turnovers (eight) than field goals made (six) in the second half in which they scored 15 points. Still, UNO was within two with 3:48 to play and had four straight possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead. The Mavs are led by Brianna Bogard, who had 29 points in the season opener and is averaging 18.0 points per game. Ericka House is averaging 10.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Freshman Mikaela Shaw has made a solid impact in her first two starts, averaging 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Taijhe Kelly picked up where she left off last season, averaging 6.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last weekend.
Graceland (2-2) is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the NAIA. The Yellowjackets are coming off a 70-65 win at Waldorf College on Nov. 9. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, Graceland went 2-24 overall season last year. Through four games this year, the Yellowjackets are led in scoring by senior Jerica Smith, who averages 14.0 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 11.0 boards per game. Senior Ashleigh Wilson (11.5 ppg) and freshman Sydney Vaughn (10.8 ppg) also average in double figures.
Series History
UNO and Graceland have never met in the regular season.
Recapping the Last Time Out
LORMAN, Miss. - The Omaha women's basketball team fell at Alcorn State, 50-45, on Sunday in the final game of its two-game road trip. The loss puts the Mavericks at 0-2 on the young season. Alcorn State improved to 1-1. The Mavs trailed 32-30 at the half, but in the second half the teams combined for just 33 total points. The Mavs went cold from the field, finishing with 15 points in the second half on 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) shooting and 3-for-8 from the free throw line. Ericka House led the Mavs with 17 points. Taijhe Kelly had nine points and 10 rebounds. The Mavs shot just 14-of-53 (26.4 percent) from the floor overall. Tierro Frost had 21 points for Alcorn State to lead all scorers. The Braves struggled from the field as well, shooting 18-of-71 (25.4 percent). However, they had 20 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Mavs 47-32 for the game.
Up Next
The Mavericks are back at home on Monday to host Chicago State at 7 p.m.
Bogard's Big Night
Although the Mavs dropped their season opener at Louisiana, 80-68, junior transfer Brianna Bogard had a memorable performance in her Maverick debut. The East Tennessee State transfer scored a career-high 29 points on 7-of-17 from the floor and a school-record-tying 15 free throws out of 18 attempts. Bogard's 29 points were the most by a UNO player in the Division I era, which began in November 2011.
Kelly is a Block Machine
Junior center Taijhe Kelly is climbing her way up the career blocked shots chart at UNO. Kelly has 123 career blocks to rank fourth in school history. She only needs seven more blocked shots to move alone into second place. The school-record holder is Mary Henke-Anderson with 291 from 1979-83. Kelly swatted 74 shots in 2012-13, the third-highest single-season total in Maverick history. In her freshman campaign, she posted 43 blocks, the eighth-best total. Only Henke-Anderson has had more blocked shots in a season (86 in 1980-81 and 75 in 1979-80). Kelly was first in The Summit League last season with her 2.6 blocks per game. Her 51 blocked shots in conference play only were 26 more than the next closest competitor.
House On Fire
The Mavericks' lone senior, Ericka House, provided instant offense off the bench last season at 9.0 points per game, the most by any Summit League reserve player. However, this year House moves into the starting lineup and a team captain role. She hit 57-of-170 from 3-point range (33.5 percent) in her first year in the program, finishing fifth in single-season 3-pointers made and fourth in attempts in UNO history. House was voted to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team this year. House's 57 triples last season puts her in a tie for 17th in school history for career 3-pointers made.
Bogard Leads Talented Group of Newcomers
With only two healthy returning players entering the 2013 season, the Mavericks will be extremely dependent on production from the eight newcomers this season. Leading that charge will be junior transfer Brianna Bogard. The 5-7 point guard brings Division I experience to the Maverick lineup, having played two seasons at East Tennessee State. Bogard, who received a waiver from the NCAA to compete immediately without having to sit out a season, averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game through 10 games as a sophomore at ETSU last season before transferring. As a freshman in 2011-12, Bogard played 20.5 minutes per game and averaged 5.2 points per game, 1.3 assists per game and 1.3 rebounds per game. She will replace Jamie Nash, who started all but six games at point guard for the Mavs over the last four years. The Mavs have two other junior transfers in guards Felicia Anderson and Lanese Bough, and both will play veteran roles right away for the young Maverick squad. In addition to the three juniors, five freshmen are new to the program this season: Felicia Coleman, Sami Pawlak, Madi Robson, Mikaela Shaw and Victoria Trowbridge.
Cox To Miss Second Straight Season
Junior guard Cathleen Cox suffered a torn ACL in the preseason and will miss the entire season. She re-injured the same ACL she tore in December 2012, which caused her to miss the final 21 games of 2012-13. Cox was one of only three returning players for the Mavericks entering this season. Her loss means Taijhe Kelly and Ericka House are the only Mavs who enter the season having worn the Omaha jersey before this year.
House Earns Preseason All-Summit League Honors; Mavs Picked Seventh
The Mavericks were picked to finish seventh in the Summit League Preseason Poll. Additionally, senior guard Ericka House was selected to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team. The league's head coaches, sports information directors and media voted on the preseason honors. The Mavericks collected 77 points to edge out eighth-place North Dakota State by three points. South Dakota State garnered 27-of-30 first-place votes and was tabbed the preseason favorite with 319 points. The Jackrabbits have won five straight conference tournaments. Not surprisingly, Fort Wayne guard Amanda Hyde was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year after earning Player of the Year last season.
Lange Leads Mavericks into 2013-14
Brittany Lange was named the interim head coach on Oct. 2 after former coach Chance Lindley stepped down for personal reasons. Lange, who is 26 and turns 27 on New Year's Eve, is believed to be the youngest Division I women's basketball head coach in the nation. Lange has been on the staff for three years since the transition to Division I began, serving as both an assistant coach and director of operations. “I am more than fortunate and excited to work under the direction and leadership of Trev Alberts and the administration,” Lange said. “Our program is continually reaching new heights and laying the foundation for future Mavericks. Our expectations, competitiveness, and vision are a direct representation of our program's principles, student-athletes and athletic department leaders. I cannot imagine a more thrilling, promising or opportune place to be currently in athletics than at Omaha.” 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 also serve as an assistant coach.
Production to Replace
Omaha lost four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad, which means the Mavericks have big shoes to fill in almost every statistical category this season. UNO must replace 76.3 percent of its scoring from last year, 78.1 percent of its rebounding, 92.2 percent of its assists and 85.9 percent of its steals. The Mavs' three leading scorers in 2012-13 - Paige Frauendorfer, Carolyn Blair-Mobley and Jamie Nash - all graduated. Combined with fellow senior Carly Cator, the four started every single game for the Mavericks. Stacia Gebers (2.3 ppg), Casse Vaughn (5.3 ppg), Kate Bayes (1.1 ppg), Myhiah Dotzler (0.9 ppg) and Allison Jackson (0.8 ppg) all moved on from the program as well.
Division I Transition Moving Along
The Mavericks now have three full seasons under their belt in their five-year wait to become eligible for conference and NCAA postseason competition. Omaha is in its third year as a reclassifying Division I school but its second year in The Summit League. UNO is still not able to participate in the Summit League tournament or the NCAA Tournament for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. However, the Mavericks would be eligible for the Women's National Invitation Tournament and the Women's Basketball Invitational should they compile a worthy resume.
New Arena On the Horizon
The Mavericks will play the next two seasons in the Sapp Fieldhouse, but in the 2015-16 season the Mavericks plan to move into their brand-new arena on the south side of the UNO campus. The arena - which will house both basketball teams, hockey and volleyball - is estimated to cost around $76.3 million and will hold approximately 7,500 for hockey. Fundraising and finalized designs for the arena are ongoing. Construction is slated to start in late 2013 with an expected completion date of June 2015. The proposed site of the building is at 68th and Center Streets, just south of Aksarben Village. “The arena is a game-changer for UNO - enhancing not only Maverick athletics and our move to Division I, but also recruitment, student life and as a home for university special events,” said Chancellor John Christensen.
The Teams
Omaha enters Thursday's game in search of its first win of the season. The Mavericks went on the road last weekend for a pair of games in the Deep South and came away with a pair of hard-fought losses. Last Friday, the Mavs were outdone by Louisiana-Lafayette, 80-68, in a game in which they were within four points midway through the second half. On Sunday, UNO fell at Alcorn State, 50-45, in an offensive struggle. The Mavs had more turnovers (eight) than field goals made (six) in the second half in which they scored 15 points. Still, UNO was within two with 3:48 to play and had four straight possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead. The Mavs are led by Brianna Bogard, who had 29 points in the season opener and is averaging 18.0 points per game. Ericka House is averaging 10.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Freshman Mikaela Shaw has made a solid impact in her first two starts, averaging 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Taijhe Kelly picked up where she left off last season, averaging 6.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last weekend.
Graceland (2-2) is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the NAIA. The Yellowjackets are coming off a 70-65 win at Waldorf College on Nov. 9. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, Graceland went 2-24 overall season last year. Through four games this year, the Yellowjackets are led in scoring by senior Jerica Smith, who averages 14.0 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 11.0 boards per game. Senior Ashleigh Wilson (11.5 ppg) and freshman Sydney Vaughn (10.8 ppg) also average in double figures.
Series History
UNO and Graceland have never met in the regular season.
Recapping the Last Time Out
LORMAN, Miss. - The Omaha women's basketball team fell at Alcorn State, 50-45, on Sunday in the final game of its two-game road trip. The loss puts the Mavericks at 0-2 on the young season. Alcorn State improved to 1-1. The Mavs trailed 32-30 at the half, but in the second half the teams combined for just 33 total points. The Mavs went cold from the field, finishing with 15 points in the second half on 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) shooting and 3-for-8 from the free throw line. Ericka House led the Mavs with 17 points. Taijhe Kelly had nine points and 10 rebounds. The Mavs shot just 14-of-53 (26.4 percent) from the floor overall. Tierro Frost had 21 points for Alcorn State to lead all scorers. The Braves struggled from the field as well, shooting 18-of-71 (25.4 percent). However, they had 20 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Mavs 47-32 for the game.
Up Next
The Mavericks are back at home on Monday to host Chicago State at 7 p.m.
Bogard's Big Night
Although the Mavs dropped their season opener at Louisiana, 80-68, junior transfer Brianna Bogard had a memorable performance in her Maverick debut. The East Tennessee State transfer scored a career-high 29 points on 7-of-17 from the floor and a school-record-tying 15 free throws out of 18 attempts. Bogard's 29 points were the most by a UNO player in the Division I era, which began in November 2011.
Kelly is a Block Machine
Junior center Taijhe Kelly is climbing her way up the career blocked shots chart at UNO. Kelly has 123 career blocks to rank fourth in school history. She only needs seven more blocked shots to move alone into second place. The school-record holder is Mary Henke-Anderson with 291 from 1979-83. Kelly swatted 74 shots in 2012-13, the third-highest single-season total in Maverick history. In her freshman campaign, she posted 43 blocks, the eighth-best total. Only Henke-Anderson has had more blocked shots in a season (86 in 1980-81 and 75 in 1979-80). Kelly was first in The Summit League last season with her 2.6 blocks per game. Her 51 blocked shots in conference play only were 26 more than the next closest competitor.
House On Fire
The Mavericks' lone senior, Ericka House, provided instant offense off the bench last season at 9.0 points per game, the most by any Summit League reserve player. However, this year House moves into the starting lineup and a team captain role. She hit 57-of-170 from 3-point range (33.5 percent) in her first year in the program, finishing fifth in single-season 3-pointers made and fourth in attempts in UNO history. House was voted to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team this year. House's 57 triples last season puts her in a tie for 17th in school history for career 3-pointers made.
Bogard Leads Talented Group of Newcomers
With only two healthy returning players entering the 2013 season, the Mavericks will be extremely dependent on production from the eight newcomers this season. Leading that charge will be junior transfer Brianna Bogard. The 5-7 point guard brings Division I experience to the Maverick lineup, having played two seasons at East Tennessee State. Bogard, who received a waiver from the NCAA to compete immediately without having to sit out a season, averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game through 10 games as a sophomore at ETSU last season before transferring. As a freshman in 2011-12, Bogard played 20.5 minutes per game and averaged 5.2 points per game, 1.3 assists per game and 1.3 rebounds per game. She will replace Jamie Nash, who started all but six games at point guard for the Mavs over the last four years. The Mavs have two other junior transfers in guards Felicia Anderson and Lanese Bough, and both will play veteran roles right away for the young Maverick squad. In addition to the three juniors, five freshmen are new to the program this season: Felicia Coleman, Sami Pawlak, Madi Robson, Mikaela Shaw and Victoria Trowbridge.
Cox To Miss Second Straight Season
Junior guard Cathleen Cox suffered a torn ACL in the preseason and will miss the entire season. She re-injured the same ACL she tore in December 2012, which caused her to miss the final 21 games of 2012-13. Cox was one of only three returning players for the Mavericks entering this season. Her loss means Taijhe Kelly and Ericka House are the only Mavs who enter the season having worn the Omaha jersey before this year.
House Earns Preseason All-Summit League Honors; Mavs Picked Seventh
The Mavericks were picked to finish seventh in the Summit League Preseason Poll. Additionally, senior guard Ericka House was selected to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team. The league's head coaches, sports information directors and media voted on the preseason honors. The Mavericks collected 77 points to edge out eighth-place North Dakota State by three points. South Dakota State garnered 27-of-30 first-place votes and was tabbed the preseason favorite with 319 points. The Jackrabbits have won five straight conference tournaments. Not surprisingly, Fort Wayne guard Amanda Hyde was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year after earning Player of the Year last season.
Lange Leads Mavericks into 2013-14
Brittany Lange was named the interim head coach on Oct. 2 after former coach Chance Lindley stepped down for personal reasons. Lange, who is 26 and turns 27 on New Year's Eve, is believed to be the youngest Division I women's basketball head coach in the nation. Lange has been on the staff for three years since the transition to Division I began, serving as both an assistant coach and director of operations. “I am more than fortunate and excited to work under the direction and leadership of Trev Alberts and the administration,” Lange said. “Our program is continually reaching new heights and laying the foundation for future Mavericks. Our expectations, competitiveness, and vision are a direct representation of our program's principles, student-athletes and athletic department leaders. I cannot imagine a more thrilling, promising or opportune place to be currently in athletics than at Omaha.” 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 also serve as an assistant coach.
Production to Replace
Omaha lost four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad, which means the Mavericks have big shoes to fill in almost every statistical category this season. UNO must replace 76.3 percent of its scoring from last year, 78.1 percent of its rebounding, 92.2 percent of its assists and 85.9 percent of its steals. The Mavs' three leading scorers in 2012-13 - Paige Frauendorfer, Carolyn Blair-Mobley and Jamie Nash - all graduated. Combined with fellow senior Carly Cator, the four started every single game for the Mavericks. Stacia Gebers (2.3 ppg), Casse Vaughn (5.3 ppg), Kate Bayes (1.1 ppg), Myhiah Dotzler (0.9 ppg) and Allison Jackson (0.8 ppg) all moved on from the program as well.
Division I Transition Moving Along
The Mavericks now have three full seasons under their belt in their five-year wait to become eligible for conference and NCAA postseason competition. Omaha is in its third year as a reclassifying Division I school but its second year in The Summit League. UNO is still not able to participate in the Summit League tournament or the NCAA Tournament for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. However, the Mavericks would be eligible for the Women's National Invitation Tournament and the Women's Basketball Invitational should they compile a worthy resume.
New Arena On the Horizon
The Mavericks will play the next two seasons in the Sapp Fieldhouse, but in the 2015-16 season the Mavericks plan to move into their brand-new arena on the south side of the UNO campus. The arena - which will house both basketball teams, hockey and volleyball - is estimated to cost around $76.3 million and will hold approximately 7,500 for hockey. Fundraising and finalized designs for the arena are ongoing. Construction is slated to start in late 2013 with an expected completion date of June 2015. The proposed site of the building is at 68th and Center Streets, just south of Aksarben Village. “The arena is a game-changer for UNO - enhancing not only Maverick athletics and our move to Division I, but also recruitment, student life and as a home for university special events,” said Chancellor John Christensen.
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