Ja Harvey scored a season-high 24 points and Grace Cave added 21 as the Omaha women built a big lead and then held off a late charge from North Dakota to open Summit League play with a 71-66 win Thursday night at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks (9-5, 1-0) have won eight of their last nine games and surpassed the number of wins they had in 2023-34 season (8-23).
UNO outscored the Fighting Hawks 12-4 in the second quarter to lead by 11 at half, and the Mavericks led by as many as 22 late in the third quarter. Alaina Powell and Lauren Perry made jumpers to close out a 6-0 run to put Omaha ahead 55-33 with 2:30 to play in the third.
North Dakota chipped away at the Maverick lead and got as close as three at 69-66 in the final minute, but Harvey made a pair of three throws with 4 seconds remaining to close out the win.
Cave and Harvey combined for nine steals. The Mavericks forced 29 North Dakota turnovers.
Kiera Pemberton had 22 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for the Fighting Hawks.
The Mavericks return to action Thursday when they visit South Dakota State for a 7 p.m. contest.
North Dakota (5-9, 0-1);25;4;10;27 -- 66
At UNO (9-5, 1-0);28;12;15;16 -- 71
UND: Aumer 3-8 0-1 7, Demers 4-4 2-2 10, Schiller 3-6 9-12, Ferrara Horne 0-3 0-0 0, Pemberton 8-15 6-9 22, Volmer 0-1 0-0 0, Ibrahim 3-4 0-0 6, Piekny 0-1 0-0 0, Beal 0-1 2-2 2, Owen 1-4 0-0 3. Totals: 22-47 19-26 66.
UNO: Keitges 1-2 0-0 2, Cave 9-18 1-2 21, Olsen 0-4 0-0 0, Gardner 1-3 4-6 6, Harvey 9-21 4-5 24, Moore 2-7 1-2 6, Stephens 0-1 0-0 0, Powell 2-3 0-0 5, Horne 0-0 1-2 1, Perry 2-4 1-2 6. Totals: 26-63 12-19 71.
3-point goals: UND 3-16 (Aumer 1-6, Schiller 1-1, Ferrara Horne 0-3, Pemberton 0-1, Piekny 0-1, Owen 1-3), UNO 7-22 (Keitges 0-1, Cave 2-6, Olsen 0-2, Gardner 0-1, Harvey 2-4, Moore 1-3, Stephens 0-1, Powell 1-2, Perry 1-2). Rebounds: UND 37 (Pemberton 13), UNO 32 (Keitges 4, Harvey 4, Moore 4, Perry 4). Assists: UND 9 (Demers 2, Schiller 2, Owen 2), UNO 13 (Olsen 4). Total fouls: UND 22, UNO 23. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none.