Mavs Dominate in Home Openers
- contact: Sarah Casey - University Communications
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Omaha – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Men's and Women's Basketball teams had home openers, this week. Both teams broke 100 points to start off the season on a high note. Thanks to the fans who came out to cheer on our Mavericks as they climb the Summit League ranks!
For the latest on Omaha Athletics, visit OMAVS.com
Men’s Basketball (Nov. 13): Mavericks Cruise Past UMKC, 101-71
The Omaha men’s basketball team opened its home slate on Wednesday, defeating former Summit League foe UMKC 101-71 in front of 1,363 fans at Ralston Arena. UNO improved to 2-1 overall (0-0 Summit League), while UMKC dropped to 0-3 (0-0 WAC).
The Mavericks were led by Omaha Benson product CJ Carter, who scored a team high 22 points while shooting 78 percent from the field. The junior guard was 3-for-4 from long range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line, while adding two rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Senior center John Karhoff also finished in double figures with 16 points, going 7-for-9 from the field. Senior guard Justin Simmons chipped in 12 points, and sophomore guard Marcus Tyus added 11 points for the night.
Junior forward Mike Rostampour finished with nine points, seven boards, a helper and a steal, and sophomore guard Devin Patterson had nine points, three rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
UNO had the hot hand as the Mavericks shot a 53 percent from the floor to UMKC’s 41 percent. The Mavericks knocked down eight 3-pointers, just three fewer than they made between their first two games. UNO also made more shots from the foul line than UMKC’s total free throw opportunities.
With the help of an early 11-0 run, Omaha opened to a 24-6 lead by the first media timeout. A fastbreak layup from Tyus extended it to 27-8, and Carter’s third 3-pointer of the half pushed it to 37-15 with 7:46 left. Senior guard Caleb Steffensmeier then knocked in a trey of his own, and seven Patterson free throws, coupled with a Karhoff layup, gave UNO a 30-point advantage at 39-19. The Mavericks took their largest lead of the half at 57-25, and UMKC managed one final basket with a jumper from Washington to leave the tally 57-27 at the break.
Omaha started the second half shooting 4-for-7 from the field and extending their lead to 33 by the first media timeout. Senior guard Alex Phillips led the Mavericks with seven points in the second half and nabbed four rebounds as well. As a team, the Mavericks shot 52 percent in the second half to UMKC’s 47 percent.
Omaha took its largest lead of the game with 3:58 remaining in the game on a Tyus 3-pointer from the corner. The Mavs then matched their 36-point margin with 3:27 to go on a Phillips layup. The Kangaroos were led offensively in the second half by Fred Chatmon, who scored 11 points and shot 62 percent. With less than a minute remaining in the game, Omaha hit the century mark, scoring 100 points – this is the first time the Mavericks have scored 100+ points since Feb. 1, 2012 against Peru State. Tyus tallied a layup and then completed the three-point play with a free throw, bringing the final tally to 101-71.
UNO returns to action on Friday, Nov. 15, traveling to UNLV. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. (CT) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com. The game will also be broadcast live on 1620 AM with Gary Sharp on the call.
Women's Basketball (Nov. 14): Mavs Scorch Nets in 109-52 Win Over Graceland
The Omaha women's basketball team blistered the nets in a 109-52 rout of Graceland (Iowa) in the Mavs' home opener on Thursday at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
The Mavs (1-2) picked up their first win of the season in emphatic fashion, tying the second-most points scored in a game in school history. The school record is 115 at Johnson & Wales on Dec. 29, 2005.
Felicia Anderson had a game-high 20 points and hit 6-of-11 from long distance. Ericka House had 19 points - all in the first half - and hit five 3-pointers. They led five Mavericks in double figures. Sami Pawlak had 15 points, Victoria Trowbridge had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Mikaela Shaw had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Both freshmen achieved their first career double-doubles.
Freshman guard Madi Robson - making her first career start - nearly had a double-double with nine points and 10 assists. She committed no turnovers in 33 minutes played. Lanese Bough had six points and eight rebounds,Brianna Bogard had seven points, four assists and no turnovers, and Taijhe Kelly had six points and six boards. She also blocked two shots to move into third place in school history with 125 career blocked shots. Felicia Coleman saw her first minutes of the season and connected on a 3-pointer, as all 10 Mavericks scored.
The Mavs cruised to a 60-26 lead at halftime after hitting 10-of-16 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes. House had 10 of the Mavs' first 12 points to set the tone. UNO appeared on its way to breaking the school record of 14 3-pointers made in a game, but the Mavs cooled off in the second half and hit only 3-of-13 to finish 13-of-29 (44.8 percent) on the night, just one off the school record.
Graceland (2-3) was led by Sydney Vaughn's 12 points. Yvette Bennett added 10.
The Mavs outrebounded Graceland, 52-32, and blocked seven shots and grabbed nine steals. UNO shot 56.6 percent overall (43-of-76). The 43 field goals made tied for the second-most in school history. Graceland finished 19-of-69 (27.5 percent).
The Mavericks are back at home on Monday to host Chicago State at 7 p.m.