PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: The Fighting Illini women's basketball program looks to bounce back from Wednesday's setback vs. Valparaiso, playing host to Omaha at State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff between the Illini (1-1) and the Mavericks (1-1), is set for 2 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+ with Scott Beatty (play-by-play) and Carson Gourdie (color). Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400-AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
ABOUT OMAHA: Omaha enters Sunday's game with a 1-1 record to start the season. The Mavericks opened the year with a 69-43 loss at No. 15-ranked Iowa State (Nov. 25), and earned a 66-64 road win over Northern Colorado (Nov. 29) before their game scheduled for Dec. 1, at Air Force, was canceled. Omaha is led by a trio of double-digit scorers in junior F Josie Filer (11.5 points per game), sophomore G Sarah Schmitt (10.5), and senior G Claire Killian (10.0). Filer also ranks as the team's top rebounder at 6.0 boards per contest. The Mavericks average 54.5 points per game, while holding opponents to 66.5 per contest. The team ranks among the top-50 in the NCAA in several categories, including No. 11 in turnovers per game (9.5), No. 37 in turnover margin (+6.5), and No. 45 in fewest turnovers (45). Omaha is led by first-year head coach Carrie Banks who previously spent time in the Big Ten as an assistant at Ohio State (2016-20) and Northwestern (2013-16).Â
SERIES VS. OMAHA:Â Sunday's matchup is the first in the series between Illinois and Omaha. The two programs have never met in women's basketball.Â
UP NEXT: The Illini travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to open Big Ten play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The tip time and broadcast information for the matchup between the Illini and the Huskers is still to be determined.Â
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
