Omaha
North Dakota
Mavericks open Summit League slate at home against North Dakota
Jan 1, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Omaha women's hoops has won 7 of 8 heading into 2025
Thursday's game can be heard on the Omaha Sports Network from Learfield via the Varsity Network app/website andĀ on 1180 The Zone (KZOTĀ AM).Ā All remaining Mavericks regular season games will be televised on the Summit League Network.Ā
Overall, Omaha women's basketball equaled their longest winning streak in 19 seasons in the month of December before falling to 10th ranked Oklahoma to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule. Prior to Oklahoma, the Mavs reeled off seven straight wins, equalingĀ the longestĀ run of Omaha's NCAA D-IĀ Era. Omaha's eight wins in the first half equal the most going into conference play since Omaha began formally competing for the Summit League crown (2012-2013). In the pre-conference portion of the schedule, Omaha went 8-4 in 2017-2018, 8-6 in 2013-2014 and 8-2 in 2012-2013.Ā
ā¢ Against Bellevue University, Omaha senior Grace Cave surpassed the 1,000 point plateau forĀ her Mavericks career, the 29th in school history. With 1,004 career points, she passed Tanya Hames (1,003, 1999-2003) and most impressively, Cave is the fourth to do so exclusivelyĀ in the Omaha DI EraĀ (Mikaela Shaw, 1,809 points, 2013-2017; Aaliyah Stanley (1,204, 2021-2024; Elena Pilaskouta, 1,201, 2018-2023). She is expected to return to the lineup after missing the Oklahoma game due to concussion protocol.
ā¢ The senior from Weeping Willow leads the Mavericks in scoring with 12.8Ā ppg (4.8Ā rpg, 3.8Ā apg, 1.8Ā spg, team co-leader 4 bs). Senior transfer Ja Harvey is second on the team with 12.4Ā ppg (3.1Ā rpg, 3.0Ā apg, 1.9Ā spg). Sophomore Cora Olsen is third in scoring (10.2Ā ppg, 3.5Ā rpg).
ā¢ Omaha is thirdĀ in the Summit League in three-point shooting (31.5%). Cave leads the team in threes made (16-51, 33%), followed by fifth-year Katie Keitges (13-40, 33%) and sophomore Ali Stephens (11-29, 38%),
ā¢ Omaha's defense has turned up the pressure during the winning streak. For the season they areĀ second among Summit League teamsĀ with 19.54 forced turnovers per game, ranking 70thĀ nationally. Cave and Harvey share the team lead with 21 steals each. Harvey is fifth in the Summit League with 1.91 spg. During Omaha'sĀ seven game win streak, opponents turned the ball over 20.9Ā times per game. InĀ that stretch Harvey ledĀ the team with 17 steals (2.43 spg).
ā¢ The Mavericks are 7-1Ā since senior transfer Ja Harvey entered the starting lineup. The 27-year-old Army National Guard SpecialistĀ has scored in double figures in sevenĀ of eightĀ starts (8Ā of 9Ā overall) including an Omaha career high 21 points at 10th ranked Oklahoma. In the past three games, Harvey has averaged 19.7 ppg (19 points versus Lindenwood,Ā 18 against Bellevue). Her NCAA career best is 23 points for Fresno State versus Boise State, 2/24/24.
ā¢ Omaha's 27.3Ā bench points per game stands second inĀ the Summit League (ORU - 29.8 ppg) and ranks 44th in the nation (South Carolina - 40.6 ppg). Senior transfer Aaliyah Moore, who also has started 6Ā games, is the most productive with 5.6Ā points and 4.8 rebounds, playing 16.9Ā minutes per game. Sophomore Alana Powell averages 5.2Ā points with 13 assists playing 12.6 mpg exclusively off the bench. Powell's half-court buzzer-beater to close out the third quarter against Bellevue was featured on the ESPN SportsCenter Top Ten plays at number three after the win.
ā¢ The Mavericks have been making the most of their freebies. Omaha's 75.3% FT mark is second-best in the Summit League and ranks 47th nationally. Grace Cave is 5th in the league (83.3%) and Cora Olsen leads the team in attempts and makes (34-43, 79%).
ā¢ Several Mavericks are moving up in the record book, particularly stats relating to the school's transition into NCAA Division IĀ beginning in 2011, reflecting only players whose entire career has been in the DI Era.Ā
ā¢ Grace Cave: In addition to her climb in career points, Grace is 24Ā shy of becoming just the second playing exclusively in the DI Era to reach 300 assists for Omaha (Mikaela Shaw, 314 assists, 2013-2017). She has 109Ā career three-pointers, ranking 5th in the Mavs DI Era. Both Cave and Katie Keitges are within striking distance of the school's all-time career three pointers made top 10.
ā¢ Katie Keitges: With 107Ā career 3-pters, Katie is 33Ā shy of the top 10 in school history, and sixth place in DI Era. With 3 threes against Wisconsin, she became the fourth in the DI Era to reach 100 3-pters.Ā Her 55 three-pters made in 2023-2024 rank seventh in the DI Era and 11th all-time.
ā¢ The MavericksĀ begin Summit League play January 2 at Baxter Arena against North Dakota. Tickets for all Omaha home games are available at omavs.com/tix.
ā¢ This is the 71st meeting between Omaha and the University of North Dakota dating back to the 1981-1982 season. The Fighting Hawks have dominated the series 59-11, winning seven of the last eight meetings.
ā¢ The Mavericks have dropped two straight in the series, including a nail-biter 2/8/24 at Baxter Arena when UND narrowly escaped with an 83-81 win. Morgann Gardner (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Grace Cave (16 pts, 6 reb, 8 assists) led the Mavericks in that game.
ā¢ Omaha's last win in the series was 3/5/23 in the Summit League tournament quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, 84-81. Then-sophomore Grace Cave had 11 points and then-junior Katie Keitges added 8 points andĀ 4 steals.Ā
ā¢ UND lost their last game 12/21 versus Wyoming, 73-41. The Fighting Hawks are led by sophomore Kiera Pemberton (14.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Jocelyn Schiller (9.6 ppg, 2.9 assists per game).Ā
ā¢ They are coached by Mallory Bernhard (50-76, 5th season), a former Fighting Hawk star player and long-time assistant before taking over the program.
LISTEN/WATCH/FOLLOW
Omaha's games can be heard on the Omaha Sports Network from Learfield via the Varsity Network app/website. Thursday's game is available on radio in Omaha at 1180 The Zone (KZOTĀ AM).Ā Ā Brent Weber handles the play-by-playĀ for the Mavericks. The FNBO Pregame Show begins at 6:45 pm CT. The game will be televised on the Summit League Network.Ā
Links are available on the OMavs.com schedule page. Tickets are available for all Mavericks home games at OMavs.com/tix.Ā
Ā
