Box Score WICHITA – The Newman women's basketball team won 61-39 over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday (Feb. 14) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Lady Jets used a strong defense effort to hold the Aggies to 25.5 percent from the field and 39 points. Newman improved to 9-13 (4-5 Heartland Conference) with the win, while OPSU dropped to 4-18 (1-9).
 
With the Lady Jets up 17-14 at the 10:47 mark, NU went on a 13-1 run to end the half and take a 30-15 advantage into halftime. Alexandra Ciabattoni scored five of the first six points during the run. She started the spurt with a three-point play at the 6:51 mark. A Ciabattoni jumper at the 3:53 mark made it 23-14. Naomi Rosales scored the next five Jet points to make it 28-14 with 1:52 left in the half. The Lady Jets led 30-15 at halftime.
 
NU pushed the margin to 20, 43-23 at the 11:05 mark on a Sheba Goode basket. The Aggies could never get close, only getting as close as 16 points for the rest of the game.
 
Alexandra Ciabattoni, who was the Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week this week, tallied a game-high 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting. She grabbed seven rebounds. Cheniqwa Banks totaled 13 points and eight rebounds. Sheba Goode pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. The Lady Jets shot 42.6 percent (23-54) from the field, including 53.7 percent (14-26) in the second half.
 
Strong defense held OPSU to 25.5 percent (12-47). The Lady Jets also dominated the boards with 51 rebounds to 24 from the Aggies.
 
Whitley Coca scored 17 points for OPSU, a team high.
 
The Lady Jets welcome Texas-Permian Basin to Fugate Gymnasium on Saturday (Feb. 16) for a 2 p.m. tilt.