Game Story
For the first time in Summit League WBB history, the eight-seed will be playing for a conference championship.
The game started quick with Omaha’s Elena Pilakouta scoring an easy bucket in the paint. She scored four of the first six points for Omaha. Western Illinois would answer by the way of Evan Zars as she would score four of the first 7 points for the Leathernecks. Omaha took an 8-7 lead into the first media timeout. The rest of the quarter was pretty back and forth basketball. Omaha went 2-4 from deep in the opening quarter as they took a 14-11 lead into the second quarter.
Claire Killian of Omaha started the quarter off with a three, extending the lead to 17-11. Omaha did a really nice job of using Elana Pilakouta in the post to force double teams and create open looks from behind the arc; Killian benefiting the most. She was a perfect 4-4 from deep in the first half, good for 12 points to lead all scorers. She would end the game shooting 6-7 from deep, good for 22 points. Coach Banks said that this was Killian’s flu game. “Claire was so sick last night. We told her that today would be like her flu game, so we’d be okay. She fought through a lot today.”
Western Illinois would put together a nice 6-0 run to cut their deficit to 24-21 at the media timeout. Both teams finished the half by picking it up on the defensive end and Omaha would lead 30-27 going into the break. One thing that stood out was Western Illinois’ Grace Gilmore only having 7 points in the first half. She scored a combined 69 points in the two games against Omaha earlier this year. More was needed from her.
Claire Killian started the second half by burying a deep three to increase Omaha’s lead 33-27. That sparked a 9-2 run and forced JD Gravina and Western Illinois to call timeout, trailing 39-29. Out of the timeout, an old-fashioned three-point play and a jumper by Killian increased the lead to 15, 44-29. Sophie Johnston would hit a layup at the buzzer to give Omaha a 53-37 lead going into the fourth quarter. Western Illinois was outscored 23-10 in the third quarter, shooting only 25% from the field. Omaha went 7-11 from the field, and took advantage of being in the bonus for the second-half of the quarter, going 8-10 from the free throw line.
The fourth quarter began with Western’s Evan Zars getting two straight buckets, forcing Omaha to call a timeout. Omaha never let Western Illinois get things going throughout the quarter and would go on to win another upset, 65-49.
To me, the biggest factor that led to Western’s defeat was that they couldn’t make the open looks, especially from deep. In the first two games at Omaha earlier this season, they made an incredible 35 three-point baskets. Today, they went 2-14 from behind the arc (14.3%). A combined 3-21 shooting from Lutz and Nichols didn’t help either.
Coach Banks knows the importance of this win for her program. I asked her what this win means to her. She said with a big smile on her face, “I want people, when they hear Omaha, to think that this is a place they can come to play and compete for a championship…this is why I love coaching. I’m just really thankful to be here.” Omaha becomes the first eight-seed to play for the Summit League WBB Championship. The Maverick Magic rolls on to Tuesday!
How’d I do in my prediction
NOT. APPLICABLE.
Because of Maverick Magic.
Player Notes
Omaha
Claire Killian finished with 22 points on 7-10 shooting (6-7 from three); Josie Filer scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds; Elena Pilakouta had 10 points and five assists.
Western Illinois
Grace Gilmore scored 16 points on 50% shooting, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out three assists; Evan Zars scored 16 points and had nine rebounds; Carla Flores finished with 10 points and two boards.
Some Stats Before You Go
Omaha outscored Western Illinois 23-10 in the third quarter
Omaha went 24-44 from the field; Western Illinois 23-57
Omaha went 13-16 from the FT line; Western Illinois 7-11
Omaha outrebounded Western Illinois 31-24
Western Illinois forced 19 Omaha turnovers
Western Illinois outscored Omaha in the paint 36-26