UNO Women drop contest to North Dakota

February 27th, 2020 | Beth Rogers

OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha womens basketball program dropped a 71-67 result to North Dakota Thursday evening in the final home game of the season.

The Mavericks fall to 7-21 overall and 2-13 in league play. The Fighting Hawks improve to 15-13 and 6-9 in Summit League action.

LEADERS FOR OMAHA
Rayanna Carter finished with 14 points, two assists, one block and one steal in her Senior Night. Mariah Murdie led the way for Omaha as she tied her career-high of 24 points for the second time with six rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Kia Wilson rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

LEADERS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 
Megan Zander and Julia Fleecs finished with 22 points apiece. Fleecs also had a team-best eight rebounds. Melissa Leet totaled eight points and seven rebounds.

TEAM STATS 
Omaha went 23-for-64 (35.9%) from the floor, 3-for-14 from beyond the arc (21.4%) and 18-of-24 from the free throw line (75%). The Fighting Hawks were 21-of-55 (38.2%) shooting, 4-of-14 (20.8%) and 25-of-33 from the line (75.8%). The Mavericks forced 20 North Dakota turnovers, which marked the second-most forced against a Division I opponent since the teams Jan. 9 meeting in Grand Forks (21).

INSIDE THE FIRST HALF 
Omaha took the early lead after a Carter basket at the 6:35 mark in the first. At the first media timeout with 4:39 to go in the quarter, Omaha held an 11-9 advantage. The Mavericks eventually trailed 17-16 after one. A Murdie basket put Omaha back ahead and helped pace the Mavericks to a two-point lead (24-22) at the second quarter media timeout. At the half, Omaha held a five-point lead (30-25).

INSIDE THE SECOND HALF 
A Murdie and-1 with 8:57 to go in the third put Omaha ahead 33-25. Wilson followed with a 3-point play of her own and made it 40-33 Omaha with 4:56 left in the frame. After three, Omaha had a 45-42 lead. After Ogier was called for a foul that forced two UND free throws, the game was even at 48-all. North Dakota eventually took the lead, but a Claire Killian three put Omaha back ahead, 53-52, with 5:44 to go. The one-possession game extended all the way to the final seconds, as a pair of Carter free throws pulled Omaha to within one with 19 seconds to spare. North Dakota, however, went up 69-66 after Omaha was forced to foul.

The Mavericks had another chance when Carter split from the line, but got her own rebound and had a good look at the rim. After the ball went out of bounds, the play was under review with 2.1 seconds to tick, down 69-67. North Dakota came away with the call and forced Omaha to foul. From there, two more UND free throws sealed the four-point victory for the Fighting Hawks.

LOOKING AHEAD 
Omaha travels to Fargo for its final regular season game this Saturday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. against North Dakota State.

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