WICHITA – The Newman women's basketball team couldn't hold on to a six-point advantage with 7 minutes remaining, falling 62-58, to St. Edward's on Thursday (Dec. 18) in the Heartland Conference opener for both teams. The Jets dropped to 3-6 and 1-0 on the season.
 
A jumper from Kesha Buckner with 7:44 left put the Jets up, 43-37, but a quick 8-0 run from SEU put the Hilltoppers in front, 47-45, at the 4:28 mark and the Jets never regained the lead.
 
With the score tied at 47-47, SEU used a 5-0 spurt to go up, 52-47. A jumper at the 3:45 mark started the run, and a 3-pointer from Sydney Thomas made it 52-47.
 
NU's Naomi Rosales cut the deficit to two points with a layup at the 2:20 mark for a 53-51 score. After two SEU free throws, DaJah Thompson pulled NU to within two with free throws with 1:32 left.
 
After back-to-back offensive rebounds, SEU went up four at 57-53 with a basket with 45 seconds left. The lead grew to 58-53, but Cierra Tjaden hit a jumper with 17 seconds left to keep NU's hopes alive at 58-55.
 
The Jets fouled the Hilltoppers with 14 seconds remaining. SEU's Mileka Loydrake hit both free throws to make the score 60-55.
 
NU's Brinna Caldwell knocked down a 3 with 10 seconds left to pull NU to within two at 60-58. With 8 seconds remaining, SEU again hit two pressure free throws for a two-possession game at 62-58. A Sierra Maykus 3 with 2 seconds on the clock didn't fall, and the Hilltoppers won 62-58.
 
Buckner and Tjaden both totaled nine points. Rosales scored eight points and added nine rebounds.
 
The Jets shot 38 percent (19-50) from the field and went 26.7 percent (4-15) from 3.
 
Loydrake finished with a game-high 19 points. Lexi Fatheree also hit double figures with 12 points. Kathleen Brisbane pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
SEU went 39.2 percent (20-51) from the field, including 44.4 percent (4-9) from 3-point range.
 
NU plays Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Dec. 20) at 1 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.