WICHITA - The Newman women's basketball team made its first-ever nationally-televised game one to remember, picking up a 69-51 win over Heartland Conference rival St. Edward's in front of a national television audience on the CBS College Sports Network. Just better than 1,050 fans were on hand in Fugate Gymnasium to witness the win.

A packed house did its job, and kept St. Edward's (8-11, 1-3 Heartland) off the board for nearly two minutes at the outset of the game, but Newman (12-7, 3-1 Heartland) was dealing with its own scoring struggles during that period. Philicia Kelly finally put the Jets on the board with a free throw at the 18:41 mark of the first half. The Hilltoppers answered with a Brittany Ward lay-up on the ensuing possession, but the Jets countered with a 6-2 spurt to take a 7-4 lead two minutes later. A 6-2 response by St. Edward's allowed the visitors to take a 10-9 edge over the next two minutes. Five ties and two lead changes later, the Jets found themselves holding onto a 30-29 lead with 4:41 remaining before both teams combined for a two-minute scoring drought. When scoring resumed, it was the Hilltoppers that took the upper hand, ending the half on an 8-5 run to take a 37-35 lead into halftime.

Aside from head team and members of the television production truck, nobody will know exactly what head coach Jaime Green told the Jets at halftime, but whatever she said worked as Newman took complete control of the game early in the second half. St. Edward's scored a free throw on its first possession, and didn't score again until the 12:17 mark when Shaniqua Adams drained a jumper. Meanwhile, the Jets opened the half on a 13-2 run over that same period, and held a 48-40 advantage when Adams drained her jumper. The Jets extended that lead to 59-41 after a pair of Rhea Codio free throws with 8:01 to play in the game. Newman's lead exceeded the 20-point mark for the first time at the 5:16 mark when a Celeste Key lay-up gave the Jets a 65-44 lead, and capped a 30-7 Newman run to start the second half. The Hilltoppers finally showed signs of life in the final five minutes of the game, closing the game on a 7-3 run to keep final Newman margin under 20-points, but that effort was far too late as the Jets collected the 69-51 win.

Rhea Codio was one of four Jets to finish with double figures, and led the Jets with 18 points and a game-high seven assists. Philicia Kelly was next in line with 14 points, while Alex Adekunle added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Celeste Key's 11 points rounded out Newman's double-digit scorers. As a team, Newman shot 55.8 percent (29-52) from the field, while out-rebounding the Hilltoppers 39-29.

Haley Tidwell led the Hilltoppers with 17 points while Brittany Ward and Sarah Milewski each added 10 points.

With the win, the Jets improve to 12-7 overall, and 3-1 in Heartland Conference play. Newman returns to action Saturday, Jan. 28 when they entertain the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies. Tip-time inside Newman's Fugate Gymnasium is slated for 2 p.m.