Omaha, Neb. – OUAZ Women's Basketball completed a perfect weekend at the Omaha Hardwood Classic on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 96-54 victory over the College of Saint Mary Flames. With the win, the Spirit improve to 3-0 on the young season and continue their impressive start to the 2026-27 campaign.
OUAZ wasted little time taking control of the contest. After trailing briefly in the opening quarter, the Spirit erupted on both ends of the floor and closed the first period with a commanding 24-12 advantage. The defense generated six first-quarter turnovers while limiting the Flames to just five made field goals, helping OUAZ build momentum early.
The Spirit completely took over in the second quarter, outscoring the Flames 26-10 to carry a dominant 50-22 lead into halftime. OUAZ shot over 60 percent from the field during the quarter and forced six more turnovers, turning defense into offense throughout the period. The lead ballooned to as many as 28 points before the break as the Spirit showcased its depth and balance.
Any hopes of a Flames comeback were quickly extinguished in the third quarter. The Spirit poured in 25 more points while holding the hosts to just nine, extending the advantage to 75-31 heading into the final frame. A 19-2 run highlighted the quarter as OUAZ stretched the lead to 44 points, their largest lead of the game.
Leading the offensive attack was Kaylona Butler, who continued her stellar opening week by scoring a game-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Butler added four steals and three assists, helping fuel the Spirit's defensive pressure and transition opportunities.
Madison Symons turned in another outstanding all-around performance with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The veteran forward was efficient throughout the afternoon, connecting on five of her nine field-goal attempts while going 7-for-8 at the free-throw line.
The Spirit received contributions throughout the lineup. Sophia Lopez scored 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers, while Meela Delap added 10 points and six rebounds. Kendall Pickford knocked down two first-quarter three-pointers to help set the tone early and finished with eight points.
OUAZ's depth was on full display as the bench accounted for 32 points. Morgen Delap contributed six points and five rebounds, Elayah Pete scored six points, and multiple players found their way into the scoring column as the Spirit maintained their intensity throughout the game.
As a team, the Spirit shot 51.5 percent from the field and an impressive 52.6 percent from beyond the arc, knocking down 10 three-pointers. OUAZ also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Flames 43-25, while forcing 18 turnovers and converting those opportunities into 30 points. Defensively, the Spirit held the Flames to just 10 percent shooting from three-point range and limited them to 31 points through the first three quarters.
The victory caps a perfect 3-0 start to the season for the Spirit, who averaged nearly 80 points per game during the opening week while winning all three contests by double digits.
OUAZ will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 12, when they travel to face Pacific Union at 7:00 p.m. on the road.
