Carrie Banks and the Mavs get first conference win in double OT

Photo Courtesy Omaha Athletics

By Emma Reilly, Contributor

Baxter Arena, Omaha, NE (Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021) — After 11 consecutive losses against Western Illinois University, first-year head coach Carrie Banks and the Mavs won the program’s first conference game, pulling a 105-102 double overtime win.

The Mavs played down to the very last second with Claire Killian literally “killin-it”. Killian scored a career high of 29 points and had her first 20-point game since November of 2019.

With three seconds left, she made a triple tying the game and forced the first over-time at 84-84. Killian gave the Mavs momentum, as she led the team with 15 points in the first half followed by Josie Filer with 9 points and Sophie Johnston with 8 points.

Omaha closed the first half with a 42-40 lead and dominated through defensive rebounds. Grace Gilmore scored over 40 points for the Leatherbacks putting pressure on the Mavs throughout the game.

In the first half, Gilmore scored 33 points despite the Maverick’s pressing defense in the paint that forced deep shots. In the first overtime, Gilmore drove the lane to score her 36th point, giving the Leathernecks a 90-88 lead with 24 seconds left in the game.

Sarah Schmitt then forced the first overtime with a buzzer-beating hook shot, making the score 92-92 and sending this conference matchup to a second OT.

Josie Filer set the pace for the Mavs scoring in the first 30 seconds of play, beating out the Leathernecks full-court press.

With one minute left of double OT, the Mavs led 103-98, until Gilmore drove the lane again putting the Leathernecks one point behind the Mavs with 46 seconds to go.

With one second remaining, freshman Lauren Frost made two free throws to seal the game 105-102 for Omaha. The Mavs are set to play the Leathernecks again tomorrow at Baxter Arena at 4 p.m.