Young Mavericks face huge tip-off test at Nebraska
Nov 3, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Omaha women's basketball has ten new players, five returnees
OMAHA, Neb. - Omaha opens the women's basketball season Monday in Lincoln against #23 Nebraska in a daunting tip-off to the 2024-25 season.
Omaha embarks on their fifth season under the guidance of head coach Carrie Banks with a visit to Pinnacle Bank Arena at 12:00 p.m. Monday, followed by home games against College of St. Mary (NAIA, Great Plains Athletic Conference) at Thursday, 11 a.m. and Western Illinois University (Ohio Valley Conference), Sunday at 2 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
Brent Weber will have the call on the Omaha Mavericks Sports Network on Learfield. LInks to live stats, audio and video can be found at OMavs.com on the schedule page.
The Mavericks come into the season with one of their biggest roster turnovers in history. Five players return from last year's squad (grad student Katie Keitges, senior Grace Cave, senior Morgann Gardner, sophomores Cora Olsen and Ali Stephens). Of the ten newcomers, five are freshmen, two community college transfers, and three upperclassmen transfers.
Omaha played one exhibition game this season, suiting up only nine players at Drake against the MVC champion Bulldogs. In the game the Mavericks trailed by only six at halftime, led by senior Grace Cave with 27 points, 4/7 threes, four assists. The Bulldogs outscored the Mavericks badly in only the third quarter en route to the 96-79 final.
"I feel like we have a great team that just really loves the game and loves this process of getting better and coming together to be the team that we need to be this year. I'm really excited for the leadership we have and our returners and we are going to be relying heavily on them as we navigate this season. But I think we also have some really bright spots, with our newcomers and just the future as well." - Omaha Head Coach Carrie Banks
Cave was named Summit League Preseason All-Conference Second Team this season. At the close of last season, the senior out of Weeping Water, Nebraska was Omaha's lone All-Summit honoree, earning an Honorable Mention.
In the Summit League's Preseason poll, South Dakota State(RV) was picked to once again hoist the regular season trophy. They are coming off a perfect Summit League regular season and NCAA appearance (27-6, 16-0). They are the lone Summit League team receiving votes in the AP Preseason Rankings. Omaha was selected to finish ninth in the league, behind Kansas City.
The Mavericks are led by Cave (5-7, G, Weeping Water, Neb.), who led the Mavericks in scoring a year ago (12.4 ppg) and returns as the top performer in multiple categories.Omaha's roster features ten new faces, including three NCAA transfers in Aaliyah Moore (6-1, F, Loyola Chicago), Ja Harvey (5-6, G, Fresno State) 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 returnees 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.
"They're coming with some basketball and college experience, but still getting to know how we do things here at Omaha. They've been great additions. I feel like they fit right in, and they give us pieces of what we need that are gonna help make us successful this year." - Omaha Head Coach Carrie Banks
The Mavericks begin Summit League play at home against North Dakota January 2nd. In addition to Nebraska, their non-league schedule includes trips to Kansas (Nov. 14), Wisconsin Nov. 23), #10 Oklahoma (Dec. 22) as well as a west coast trip to the University of San Diego's Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 29-30). The Summit League is also matching up with Portland State and Sacramento State in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.
Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.
