Box Score WICHITA – After trailing at half, 25-21, the Newman women's basketball team outscored Arkansas-Fort Smith by 10 in the second half to take a 58-52 win on Saturday (Feb. 23) at Fugate Gymnasium. With the win, the Lady Jets improved to 10-14 and 5-6 in the Heartland Conference, which ties them for third in the standings with Texas A&M International.
 
The Lady Jets took their first lead of the second half on an Alexandra Ciabattoni basketball at the 10:31 and never looked back, keeping the lead for the rest of the game. The jumper put NU up 35-34. With the score still close at 45-42 with 4:55 remaining, Newman went on a 13-3 to take a commanding 58-45 advantage with 1:44 left. The Lady Jets made three-straight 3-pointers during the run. Bobbi Coleman started the spurt with a triple at the 3:36 mark, Ciabattoni followed it up with a 3 at the 2:51 mark, and Cheniqwa Banks hit the final trey at the 1:44 mark for the 13-point Jet advantage.
 
The Lady Lions scored the final seven points, but the Lady Jets held on for the 58-52 win.
 
Newman looked like they would put the game away early, scoring the first 10 points of the contest for a 10-0 lead at the 16:13 mark. The visiting Lady Lions, however, responded with an 11-0 run to take an 11-10 advantage with 11:49 left in the half. The first half was back-and-forth with UAFS holding a 25-21 lead at halftime.
 
Ciabattoni had game highs in both points and rebounds. She totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Three other Lady Jets were in double figures. Coleman and Banks scored 12 points, and Kianna Flannagan added 10 points. The Lady Jets shot 46.2 percent (12-26) in the second half.
 
NU's defense held UAFS to 28.8 percent (15-52) from the field, including 24 percent (6-25) in the first half. Katie BenAmor totaled 14 points for Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
The Lady Jets travel to McMurry on Thursday (Feb. 28) for a 5:30 p.m. tip. Newman then ends the regular season at St. Edward's on Saturday (March 2) at 2 p.m.