The Basics
Final Score: Omaha 51, Detroit Mercy 42
Records: Detroit Mercy 2-5, Omaha 3-3
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Calihan Hall)

DETROIT (11/29/2018) -- Calihan Hall was packed and loud again for the fourth annual Field Trip Day, with Detroit Mercy hosting 21 schools and 3,106 kids and fans on Thursday morning, but the host University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball squad fell to visiting Omaha by a 51-42 margin.

The Titans (2-5) totaled 16 steals -- the most by the program in a game since 2009 -- including nine first-half thefts as Detroit Mercy jumped out to a lead. The Titans earned a halftime lead, holding Omaha to just 17 first-half points, but Detroit Mercy scored 18 points in the final 20 minutes to fall at home.

The red, white and blue opened a 9-4 lead early with senior guard Brittney Jackson knocking down a 3-pointer as Detroit Mercy took a five-point lead at the first media timeout. Jackson then drilled another triple after the timeout and Detroit Mercy went ahead 12-6. Omaha pulled to within 14-11 by the end of the first quarter, but the Titans opened the second on a run.

Sophomore Lexey Tobel sank back-to-back 3-pointers within a minute of each other as Detroit Mercy opened a 20-11 lead. Freshman Sophia DiMilia then converted on a lay-up at the 8:09 mark to cap off a 10-0 run dating back to the first quarter and give Detroit Mercy a 22-11 lead. Omaha was forced to call a timeout.

The Mavericks pulled back to within five, 22-17, but the Titans held Omaha scoreless over the final 4:28 of the quarter to take a 24-17 halftime lead.

Detroit Mercy maintained its seven-point advantage as freshman Paige Bellman drilled a trey early in the third stanza, but Omaha used a 7-0 run to tie the game, 29-29, at the 6:34 mark of the third quarter. Detroit Mercy went cold from the field over the next few minutes of the quarter as Omaha pulled ahead after three quarters, 38-33.

Junior Zoey Oatis opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up, but Omaha followed with a 3-pointer to extend its lead, 41-35. Bellman then found a driving Oatis for a lay-up at the 5:55 mark of the fourth stanza as the Titans pulled to within five, 42-37. After a Mavericks bucket, Jackson then made her third triple of the game and Detroit Mercy was down just four, 44-40, with 5:21 remaining. Omaha again countered with two-straight buckets, using a mini 5-0 run to take a 49-40 lead with 4:25 left.

Oatis swiped a pass for her fifth steal of the contest with 3:35 left and then scored with ease on the fast break, but it would be the final bucket for the Titans. Neither team scored in the final 3:20 of the contest.

Jackson had a team-high nine points, with Tobel and Oatis each adding eight points. Four players had multiple steals -- Oatis (five), freshman Jess Bicknell (four), Bellman (three) and DiMilia (two). Bellman added a team-best three assists, while junior Ashley Miller pulled down six rebounds. Oatis had eight points, five rebounds and five steals.

Detroit Mercy shot 28.8 percent in the contest (17-for-59), but sank a season-best six triples. Detroit Mercy had 28 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive end, compared with 35 for Omaha. The Titans had three blocks and nine assists in the contest, to go along with the 16 steals on the defensive end.

Titan News & Notes
• The 16 steals by the Titans were the most since for the red, white and blue had 16 swipes at Wright State on Jan. 31, 2009.
• It was the third game this season of 10 or more steals for the Titans.
• Oatis surpassed her career-high in steals of four, set last season against Cleveland State.
• Oatis now has Horizon League highs for blocks (5) and steals (5) in a game this season.
• Jackson moved into a tie for 16th all-time with Katie Solner and Terri Ford in Titan history with 95 career 3-pointers made.
• It was Bellman's fifth multi-steal game of the season and third game of three or more steals.
• The Titans have hosted 11,973 fans in the four Field Trip Day games from Calihan Hall in the past four years, averaging 2,993 fans per game.
• Detroit Mercy and Omaha were playing in women's basketball for the first time.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 5, traveling to in-state foe Eastern Michigan for a 7 p.m. contest at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti. Detroit Mercy's next home game is Sunday, Dec. 9 against Mid-American Conference foe Western Michigan in a 1 p.m. game.