WICHITA – The Newman women's basketball team started the game with a 19-4 run en route to a 90-62 win over Central Christian College on Monday (Dec. 1) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets evened their record to 3-3 on the season.
 
NU scored the first eight points with DaJah Thompson starting the game with a layup 12 second in. Two consecutive 3s made it 8-0. Brianna Caldwell knocked down the first one, and DeKendra Ledoux, who was making her first start of the season, hit the second trey for the 8-0 score at 18:13. The Tigers scored four of the next six points then NU poured in nine straight. Eledria Franklin started the spurt with a 3 at the 14:06 mark, and the Jets made three straight layups from Shakira Raynor, Kesha Buckner and Naomi Rosales. NU led, 19-4, with 11:59 remaining in the half.
 
The Jets held a 47-27 advantage at halftime. NU led by more than 20 points for most of the second half, and the advantage grew to as large as 37 points after a Lizzy Harrison 3-pointer made it 84-47 with 5:38 left.
 
In the first half, NU shot 50 percent (20-40) from the field, including 46.2 percent (6-13) from 3.
 
For the game, the Jets finished at 48.7 percent (37-76) from the field. A total of 12 Jets scored in the game out of the 13 that played. Ledoux scored a game-high and a career-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Sierra Maykus totaled 16 points on four 3-pointers. Caldwell also hit four 3s to finish with 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Cierra Tjaden tallied a game-high and career-high 11 assists. NU had 28 assists on 37 made baskets.
 
NU outrebounded CCC by a 47-38 margin. Every Jet that played grabbed at least one rebound. Caldwell had the game-high of seven, and Naomi Rosales pulled down six in only 13 minutes. Kesha Buckner, Tjaden and Mali Wright all had five rebounds. Buckner did it all with six points, five rebounds, five steals and one block.
 
Libby Regier led CCC with 13 points, and Kelly Smit tallied 10 points. The NU defense held the Tigers to 35.5 percent (22-62) from the field, including 32.1 percent (9-28) in the first half. CCC committed 25 turnovers, and the Jets had 14 steals.
 
The 90 points from NU is a season high along with the field goal percentage of 48.7. The 47 rebounds, 28 assists and 14 steals are also season highs.
 
The Jets play their first true road game of the season this Saturday (Dec. 6) at No. 2 Emporia State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Emporia, Kan.