WICHITA - The Newman women's basketball team is set to square off against East Central Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium. The women will look to get back to their winning ways after a 71-65 overtime loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State Thursday night in Weatherford, Okla.

The 2011-12 Jets...
Newman will look to impose what has been top notch defensive work this season on the East Central Tigers when they visit Wichita Saturday. The Jets are leading the Heartland Conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 56.1 points per contest. Newman is also leading the conference in scoring margin, outscoring opponents by 11 points per game. The Jets have had huge performances thus far from senior guard Satoria Bell, who went for 26 points in Thursday's loss at Southwestern Oklahoma State. Bell is leading the team in scoring for the season, averaging 22.4 points per contest, and has twice been named the Heartland Conference Player of the Week.

Tasha Cannon is the only Jet averaging a double-double on the season. Cannon scores 14.1 points per game and leads the Jets in rebouding with 10 boards per contest.  She is the only other player in the conference to earn Heartland Conference Player of the Week honors.

Defensively Newman is holding its opposition to just 38.8 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from beyond the arc.

For the season Newman is shooting 43.5 percent from the field, and 30.3 percent from long range. The Jets convert 76.1 percent of their free throws, and out-rebound their opponents by a 5.3 margin.

Last Time Out...
The Jets moved to 6-2 on the season after a 71-65 overtime loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 1 in Weatherford, Okla. Newman shot 37.9 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free throw line.

Newman used a 13-0 run over a five-minute period late in the second half to overcome a nine-point deficit with eight minutes remaining, and forced the overtime period. The Jets were held without a field goal in the extra frame, and scored just four points, all off of free throws.

Senior guard Satoria Bell led the Jets' offense with 26 points and added nine rebounds and five steals on the night. Tasha Cannon booked her third double-double of the season going for 14 points and 13 rebounds and made two steals in the contest.

Scouting East Central...
After posting a 10-17 record in 2010-11, East Central (0-5) has yet to win a game this season. The Tigers have forced two overtime games, losing to NAIA foe St. Gregory's (72-67) and NCAA Div. II power Midwestern State (94-87), and have also dropped matches against nationally-ranked Washburn (72-56), perennial MIAA power Central Missouri (70-51) and NAIA rival Southwestern Christian (62-59).

East Central is led by Lindsey McCown, a 6-0 junior forward who averages 10.2 points and 4 rebounds per game and Fanta Toure a 6-1 junior center who is averaging 10 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

As a team the Tigers are shooting 64 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from beyond the arc while converting 49 percent of their free throws.

Welcome to Our House...
Saturday's contest will mark the second year in a row the two teams have met. The Jets claimed a 72-57 win in last year's season opening match played in East Central's Kerr Center. The Tigers will look for revenge this time in Fugate Gymnasium home of the Jets.