No. 8 Omaha got past No. 9 Denver in the first game of the 2025 Summit League Basketball Championships.
Omaha opened the game with a 7-0 run, broken by Denver’s Brooke Murrell. The Mavericks’ first quarter scoring streak continued with 11 points from Summit League Newcomer of the Year, Ja Harvey. Omaha led 26-14 after the first frame.
Momentum shifted when the Pioneers went on a 6-0 run to start the second quarter, prompting an Omaha timeout. Out of the break, Omaha stretched the lead back to 11. Angelina Robles drained a jumper at the buzzer to bring the Mavericks’ lead back to 10 heading into the half.
Grace Cave scored the first points of the second half for Omaha, with Robles quickly returning the favor for Denver. A Mary WIilson three-pointer brought the Pioneers back within six. A triple from Laia Monclova cut the Omaha lead to one. The Mavericks led 60-59 at the end of the third.
A minute and a half into the last frame, Denver picked up its first lead of the game, 61-60. After a two-minute drought for both teams, Cave regained the 64-63 lead for Omaha. Alana Powell excited Omaha’s bench with a successful and-one opportunity to stretch the lead to five. Omaha continued its momentum and took the game, 76-68.
Harvey led the Mavericks with 20 points, followed by 19 points from Cave. Aaliyah Moore tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Denver was led by 22 points and seven rebounds from Jordan Jones, while Robles added 18 points and Murrell pulled down eight boards.
Denver finishes the season 9-21, and 2-14 in conference play.
Omaha advances to play No. 1 South Dakota State at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.