SAN DIEGO — Utah Valley got another standout performance from Tahlia White, but came up short, 53-48, to Omaha on Saturday at the University of San Diego Thanksgiving Classic. White, who scored 19 in a win on Friday, followed that up with 18 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals.
 
Kylee Mabry had 10 points while Danja Stafford Collins led the team with eight rebounds. Omaha (4-4) had a balanced output offensively. Grace Cave had 13 to lead the way with four others scoring seven points or more.
 
Both teams shot the ball well out of the chute. Omaha hit six of its first eight attempts while UVU (6-2) started 5-for-8. White picked up right where she left off in Friday's win, scoring the team's first eight points. Amanda Barcello connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter. Her second triple was followed by a Mabry layup to give UVU a 16-13 lead.
 
The Mavericks closed the first with eight consecutive points to take a 21-16 lead after one after shooting 8-for-11 from the field in the quarter.
 
The Wolverines were ice cold to start the second, missing their first seven shots as Omaha stretched the lead to 11, 27-16, by the under-5 media timeout. Saige Gibb stopped that streak as she and White each scored four points during an 8-0 UVU run. White had 12 points and five rebounds in the half to lead UVU, which trailed 29-25 at halftime.
 
Out of the break, Omaha seized control of the contest, scoring the first five points during a 15-2 run over the first six minutes to take a 44-27 lead. Cave bookended the run with 3-point makes and also assisted on two other buckets during that stretch. Cave finished the game with five rebounds and five assists to go along with her 13 points.
 
Gracie Sorenson and Mabry each scored four points over the final 4:13 of the third to cut into the deficit, but the Mavericks carried a 48-35 lead into the fourth.
 
An Ally Criddle layup followed by a 3-pointer from White and two more from Mabry got the Wolverines within two possessions, 51-45, midway through the fourth. White had a steal and open bucket at the other end to again make it a six, 53-47. Down five, 53-48, at the 1-minute mark, the Wolverines had the ball but couldn't convert as both team struggled to get the ball to drop over the closing minutes of the game.
 
Up next, the Wolverines will travel to Air Force for a contest next Wednesday night in the only game of the week.