WICHITA – A late run from William Jewell was enough to take down the Newman women's basketball team, 58-55, on Saturday (Dec. 13) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets dropped to 3-5 on the season.
 
With the score tied at 49-49, five straight WJC points were enough to put the game away. A 3 with 6:54 remaining in the game lifted the Cardinals to a 52-49 lead. Two free throws opened up the margin to five at 54-49 with 6:23 left.
 
A 5-1 run from the Jets pulled them to within one at 55-54, but NU couldn't get any closer in the game. A Kesha Buckner free throw started the run then Naomi Rosales, who was making her first start of the season, scored a layup at the 4:46 mark for a 54-52 score. After one free throw from WJC, Cierra Tjaden hit a layup with 3:59 remaining to close the deficit to one at 55-54.
 
The Cardinals increased their lead to three at the 2:33 mark with a basket for a 57-54 score.
 
With 9 seconds left and the score still 57-54; the Jets had an opportunity to tie the score. Tjaden was fouled on a 3-point shot and was awarded three free throws. Tjaden missed the first two, but hit the third for a 57-55 score.
 
NU still had a chance after WJC went 1-for-2 from the free throw line with 7 seconds left for a 58-55 score. Needing a 3, Tjaden got a good look from deep, but the shot didn't fall with 1 second remaining, and the Jets lost, 58-55.
 
Buckner scored a game-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. She was the only Jet in double figures. Cierra Tjaden added nine points, five rebounds, a team high, and three assists.
 
The Jets shot 34.5 percent (19-55) from the field and just 10 percent (2-20) from 3-point range. In the second half, NU went 7-of-25 (28 percent) from the field.
 
NU starts Heartland Conference play on Thursday (Dec. 18) against St. Edward's at Fugate Gymnasium on the campus of Newman University. Live stats, video and audio will be available for the game.