Box Score TOPEKA, Kan. - The Newman women's basketball team's first-ever trip to the NCAA Div. II National Championship tournament ended in disappointment, as the Jets dropped a 53-45 decision to Northeastern State Friday afternoon inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan. Tasha Cannon ended her career with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Northeastern State (25-4) jumped out to a 6-2 lead less than two minutes into the game, but a Kianna Flannagan trey sparked a 7-0 run that gave Newman (23-6) a 9-6 lead with 15:59 to play in the opening period. The RiverHawks netted a pair of lay-ups, and toko a 10-9 lead with 14:25 to play, but Ariella McGhee's jumper at the 14:03 mark gave the Jets an 11-10 lead. Neither team scored for the next four minutes, but Tosha Tyler's jumper with 9:58 to play gave second-seeded NSU a 12-11 lead with 9:58 still to play. The two teams traded leads until the 6:50 mark when McGhee drained another layup and tied the game at 15-15. Her layup sparked a 9-2 run, and gave the Jets a lead they would not surrender. After the first 20 minutes of play, the Jets held a 27-21 lead.

NSU used an 8-2 run over the first four minutes of the second half to force a 29-29 tie with 16:24 to play. Newman countered with a 6-2 spurt, and took a 35-31 lead after yet another McGhee jumper, but back-to-back NSU treys gave the RiverHawks their first lead of the half, a 37-35 edge with 12:33 to play. The two teams exchanged triples for the next 90 seconds, until a three from Taylor Lewis gave NSU a 43-39 lead with 9:51 to play. It was all part of a 10-2 run that helped the RiverHawks take a 47-41 lead with 6:57 to play. The Jets were unable to score again until Alina Voronenko's lay-up with 4:59 remaining that pulled the Jets to within four, but that was as close as they could get. In all, NSU ended the game on a 16-6 run, and handed Newman a season-ending 53-45 loss.

Tasha Cannon led Newman's offense with 10 points, and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. She was the only Jet to post double figures in the contest.

Taylor Lewis led all scorers with 20 points, including four three's.

As a team, Newman shot 34.6 percent (18-52) from the field, and 25 percent (4-16) from three point range. The Jets converted 83.3 percent (5-6) of their free throws, and out-rebounded NSU 36-31, while holding the RiverHawks to a 35.3 percent (18-51) effort from the field.

With the loss, the Jets end a dream season with a 23-6 record. They will bid farewell to seniors Tasha Cannon, Alina Voronenko, Satoria Bell, Celeste Key and Ariella McGhee, who have exhausted their eligibility, and will graduate in May.