Mavs shooting turns ice cold in second half

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January 6th, 2014

Omaha, NE — The University of Nebraska at Omaha women’s basketball team was riding a five game winning streak heading into their match-up with the Milwaukee Panthers.

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The Mavericks were looking to continue their recent success, and they started off on the right foot Sunday at the Sapp Fieldhouse.

UNO mounted a 21-10 lead early in the first half and outshot the Panthers 50 percent to 33 percent in the game’s opening 20 minutes. But the Panthers simply would not go away; they came back to tie the game 30-30 at the half. This was in part because UNO committed 15 turnovers in the first half. UNO opened the second half with a couple of turnovers, and Milwaukee took a 39-32 lead with 14 minutes to play. At that point the Mavs had more turnovers than baskets.

The turnover barrage would continue in the second half for UNO. This would create a double digit deficit for the Mavs, a gap they wouldn’t be able to close. UNO would eventually fall to the Panthers, 68-48. Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said her team started off slow, but was able to get back into the game once momentum mounted against UNO.

“We finally started locking in and getting stops,” Rechlicz said. “At the beginning of the game they were so hot and then (we) forced them into some turnovers. I think thirteen steals is the most that we’ve had all season.”

Brittany Lange (center) had led the Mavs to a 6-1 record at home this season. (Photo Courtesy UNO Athletics)

Brittany Lange (center) had led the Mavs to a 6-1 record at home this season. (Photo Courtesy UNO Athletics)

Leading the way for Milwaukee (4-9 overall, 0-0 Horizon League) was forward Avyanna Young who was 7-for-16 from the field for 14 points. Young also added 11 rebounds and a steal. UNO was guided by junior guard Ericka House who had 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting.

Milwaukee outshot UNO in the second half, 48 percent to 28 percent.

Maverick Head Coach Brittany Lange said her team didn’t give up even if the score may suggest otherwise.

“They are learning to couple every possession, and doing it the right way,” Lange said. “It appears that way, just given what the outcome was. But our concentration and ability to stay in front in the second half wore us thin.”

Lange said there wasn’t one thing in particular that doomed the Mavs against Milwaukee. She said there were numerous errors on UNO‘s part Sunday. She said the team will pick themselves up and get back to work during practice Monday.

“Maybe the spacing wasn’t correct and the timing wasn’t good and sometimes they try to do too much and feel they have to try to create every shot for everybody,” Lange said. “Again, that is going to come with maturity and understanding that they have got to play within the system.”

UNO (8-6 overall, 0-0 Summit League) heads into conference play Saturday against Western Illinois. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse.

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