Newman (9-5) at Arkansas-Fort Smith (10-5)
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 || 2 p.m. || Stubblefield Center (3,028) || Fort Smith, Ark.
Live Stats || Live Video || Live Audio || Newman Notes || Arkansas-Fort Smith Notes
FORT SMITH, Ark. - The Newman women's basketball team opens Heartland Conference play with a trip to Fort Smith, Ark., to take on the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions Saturday afternoon. Tip-time inside the Stubblefield Center is slated for 2 p.m.
About the Jets...
Newman brings a 9-5 record into Saturday's game after picking up a 73-71 come-from-behind win over Midwestern State Monday night in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Jets opened the season with wins in five of their first six contests, defeating Lone Star opponents East Central (72-57), Cameron (75-70), Catholic arch rival Rockhurst (67-50), and in-state rival Fort Hays State (66-52) in the process. Newman's only loss in that stretch was an 83-71 road loss at Pittsburg State on Nov. 16.
The Jets are led by
Philicia Kelly, a 5-9 junior transfer from Labette Community College who is averaging 15.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Rhea Codio, a transfer guard from the University of Kansas, scores 13.6 points and dishes out 3.9 assists per game for the Jets as the team's point guard, while
Tasha Cannon can be counted on for 13.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in the paint. Codio posted a career-high 25 points Monday's win at Midwestern State.
As a team, the Jets have held their opponents to a .383 collective field goal percentage, and out-rebound opposing teams by a 40.2-33.9 margin.
Scouting Arkansas-Fort Smith...
The Lions bring a 10-4 record into Saturday's contest, and are coming off a 66-46 drubbing of Oklahoma Panhandle State Thursday in Fort Smith. UAFS is 4-2 in games played on their home court, with their only losses coming in an 83-82 overtime decision to Drury on Dec. 12 and a 65-59 loss to Missouri S&T a week later. The likes of Pittsburg State, Arkansas-Monticello, Missouri Southern, and Oklahoma Panhandle State have all fallen at D. L. Ligon Coliseum this season.
Whitney Lee has emerged as Arkansas-Fort Smith's leading scorer this season. The 6-0 junior forward is averaging 13.8 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds per game through 13 games in the 2010-11 season. Tashley Gaines, a 5-10 junior guard is averaging 11.4 points per game, while Coby Hill is averaging 11.0 points per game this season.
The Series....
This will be the third meeting between the Jets and the Lions. Arkansas-Fort Smith has won each of the last two meetings, and has never lost to Newman.
The Last Time These Two Met....
UAFS held the Jets to a .238 (15-63) shooting effort from the field, and Newman missed all 14 shots it took from beyond the arc as the Lions picked up a 72-47 win over Newman in front of 1,648 fans on PinkZone night inside the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith, Ark.
Monique Pitts led the Jets with 12 points and eight rebounds..
