Sunday, October 27
Des Moines, Iowa
2 p.m.
Omaha
at
Drake (Exhibition)
Returnees Cora Olsen (left) and Ali Stephens at a recent practice.
Mavericks women's basketball tunes up for 24-25 season at Drake
Oct 26, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Exhibition in Des Moines Sunday benefits storm victims
OMAHA, Neb. -Ā With five returnees including their leading scorer from a year ago, the Omaha Mavericks face their lone preseason test in women's basketball Sunday against Drake in Des Moines.Ā
The two-time reigning MVC champion Bulldogs and the young Mavericks from the Summit League have partnered for this exhibition at Knapp Center, with proceedsĀ from the game to be donated directly to the Greater Greenfield Community Fund and American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region to help aid those affected by last summer's tornadoes. There will also be opportunities to donate directly to the Greater Greenfield Community Fun and American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region in the arena.
The Mavericks are led by preseason Summit League second teamer Grace Cave (5-7, G, Weeping Water, Neb.), who led the Mavericks in scoring a year ago (12.4 ppg) and was an Honorable Mention All-Summit League performer. Omaha's Carrie Banks has a roster featuring ten new faces, including three NCAA transfers in Aaliyah Moore (6-1, F, Loyola Chicago), Ja Harvey (5-6, G, Fresno State)Ā and Mar Vidal (5-9, G, Felician), as well as Australian freshmen Harriet Ford (6-3, C) and Kyana Weir (5-5, G). Both Aussies have significant international experience. Senior Morgann Gardner (6-2, F) and grad student Katie Keitges (5-8, G) bring leadership to the team's core. The Mavericks plan to count heavily on the other two returneesĀ Cora Olsen (5-9, F, Millard South HS) and Ali Stephens (5-11, F). Community college products Lauren Perry (5-7, G, Lakeland CC) and Alana Powell (5-8, G, Balt. Co-Essex) along with promising freshmen Daria Shelby (5-8, G, Canton, Mich.), Paige Horne (6-0, F, Scottsbluff, Neb.) and Kendyl Delimont (5-6, FR, Ainsworth, Neb.) give the the Mavericks fifteen players with plenty of raw talent.
"I think we have great energy with this group, everybody is dialed in and ready to learn," 5th year Omaha head coach Banks said. "We are every day trying to get closer and closer to playing more together as a team."
Heading in to the season, Banks said the biggest focus in the preseason has been on defense.Ā
"We have a lot of kids that can score the basketball, but what are you going to do defensively to help this team get stops and win games?" she said. "That's been the focal point. So the kids that are doing that consistently are the ones I think you'll see the most of."
The charitable aspect of the exhibition is important to both coaches and universities. In fact, the communities most affected by this summer's tornadoes are home to many of their players past and present.
Ā
"Our community is in the rebuilding phase after the devastating tornado that hit Greenfield and the surrounding area on May 21st," said Jennifer Garside, Director of the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation. "It will take years to totally rebuild from such devastation, not just homes and infrastructure but things like the hundreds of trees that were decimated. We were honored that Drake Athletics, and specifically the women's basketball program, reached out to us and wanted to raise money for our community and keep our efforts at the forefront of people's minds, as well as complimentary tickets given to those who had lost a home. It's generosityĀ like what Drake has shown us that will help us rebuild and recover."
Ā
To purchase tickets, fans can visitĀ godrakebulldogs.evenue.netĀ and click on the "Enter Promo Code" link located in the top right corner of the page. There, submit the codeĀ WBBRELIEFĀ to secure your seats at the Knapp Center and contribute to area relief efforts.
Ā
The Bulldogs and Mavericks will tip things off on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Knapp Center and the game can be heard on the Omaha Mavericks Network (via 1180 the Zone) and The Varsity app. Brent Weber will have the play-by-play call. More info on this year's team can be found at OMavs.com.Ā
Official score and stats will not count toward the two teams' 2024-25 records, but any funds raise will count toward rebuilding both communities.Ā
Omaha's season opener comes the following Monday in Lincoln when they visit the #23 Nebraska Cornhuskers, Monday, November 4 at 12 p.m. Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.Ā
Ā
The two-time reigning MVC champion Bulldogs and the young Mavericks from the Summit League have partnered for this exhibition at Knapp Center, with proceedsĀ from the game to be donated directly to the Greater Greenfield Community Fund and American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region to help aid those affected by last summer's tornadoes. There will also be opportunities to donate directly to the Greater Greenfield Community Fun and American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region in the arena.
The Mavericks are led by preseason Summit League second teamer Grace Cave (5-7, G, Weeping Water, Neb.), who led the Mavericks in scoring a year ago (12.4 ppg) and was an Honorable Mention All-Summit League performer. Omaha's Carrie Banks has a roster featuring ten new faces, including three NCAA transfers in Aaliyah Moore (6-1, F, Loyola Chicago), Ja Harvey (5-6, G, Fresno State)Ā and Mar Vidal (5-9, G, Felician), as well as Australian freshmen Harriet Ford (6-3, C) and Kyana Weir (5-5, G). Both Aussies have significant international experience. Senior Morgann Gardner (6-2, F) and grad student Katie Keitges (5-8, G) bring leadership to the team's core. The Mavericks plan to count heavily on the other two returneesĀ Cora Olsen (5-9, F, Millard South HS) and Ali Stephens (5-11, F). Community college products Lauren Perry (5-7, G, Lakeland CC) and Alana Powell (5-8, G, Balt. Co-Essex) along with promising freshmen Daria Shelby (5-8, G, Canton, Mich.), Paige Horne (6-0, F, Scottsbluff, Neb.) and Kendyl Delimont (5-6, FR, Ainsworth, Neb.) give the the Mavericks fifteen players with plenty of raw talent.
"I think we have great energy with this group, everybody is dialed in and ready to learn," 5th year Omaha head coach Banks said. "We are every day trying to get closer and closer to playing more together as a team."
Heading in to the season, Banks said the biggest focus in the preseason has been on defense.Ā
"We have a lot of kids that can score the basketball, but what are you going to do defensively to help this team get stops and win games?" she said. "That's been the focal point. So the kids that are doing that consistently are the ones I think you'll see the most of."
The charitable aspect of the exhibition is important to both coaches and universities. In fact, the communities most affected by this summer's tornadoes are home to many of their players past and present.
Ā
"Our community is in the rebuilding phase after the devastating tornado that hit Greenfield and the surrounding area on May 21st," said Jennifer Garside, Director of the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation. "It will take years to totally rebuild from such devastation, not just homes and infrastructure but things like the hundreds of trees that were decimated. We were honored that Drake Athletics, and specifically the women's basketball program, reached out to us and wanted to raise money for our community and keep our efforts at the forefront of people's minds, as well as complimentary tickets given to those who had lost a home. It's generosityĀ like what Drake has shown us that will help us rebuild and recover."
Ā
To purchase tickets, fans can visitĀ godrakebulldogs.evenue.netĀ and click on the "Enter Promo Code" link located in the top right corner of the page. There, submit the codeĀ WBBRELIEFĀ to secure your seats at the Knapp Center and contribute to area relief efforts.
Ā
The Bulldogs and Mavericks will tip things off on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Knapp Center and the game can be heard on the Omaha Mavericks Network (via 1180 the Zone) and The Varsity app. Brent Weber will have the play-by-play call. More info on this year's team can be found at OMavs.com.Ā
Official score and stats will not count toward the two teams' 2024-25 records, but any funds raise will count toward rebuilding both communities.Ā
Omaha's season opener comes the following Monday in Lincoln when they visit the #23 Nebraska Cornhuskers, Monday, November 4 at 12 p.m. Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.Ā
Ā
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
