WICHITA – Texas A&M International's Jessica Prieto hit two free throws with 5 seconds left in overtime to down the Newman women's basketball team, 48-47, on Thursday (Jan. 29) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets dropped to 6-12 and 3-7 in the Heartland Conference.
 
Prieto put in two free throws with 5 seconds remaining in overtime to put TAMIU up by the score of 48-47. A late 3-pointer from Cierra Tjaden didn't fall, and the Dustdevils got the victory.
 
Kesha Buckner hit two free throws with 9 seconds left to give NU a 47-46 advantage. The Jets looked like they might get the win, but a foul was called on Tjaden with 5 seconds left.
 
The game was tied at 42-42 after regulation. DaJah Thompson scored the first point of overtime with one free throw for a 43-42 NU lead with 3:42 remaining. Prieto put TAMIU up by one at 44-43 with a layup at the 1:55 mark.
 
DeKendra Ledoux made a jumper in the lane with 34 seconds remaining for a 45-44 NU edge. TAMIU went up by one at 46-45 after a Stella Ghazarian basket with 19 seconds left before the late free throws from each team.
 
Cierra Tjaden scored a team-high 14 points with 11 points in the first half. Shakira Raynor added 11 points. Guard Kesha Buckner pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds.
 
NU held a 16 point advantage with 16:28 remaining in regulation after a Shakira Raynor layup put the Jets up 34-18.
 
The Dustdevils hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 13 and then three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point field goal attempt pulled TAMIU to within 10 at 36-26 with 13:09 left. Another 3-pointer made it a seven-point game at 38-31 at the 10:13 mark.
 
With the Jets' lead at eight, 39-31, after one Raynor free throw, TAMIU scored seven straight points for a 39-38 score with 5:36 left. Prieto scored on a layup and then she hit a 3-pointer for a 39-36 score. TAMIU's Jessica Woo put in a layup with 5:36 left for the one point deficit.
 
Thompson scored on a layup with 5:08 left for a 41-38 NU edge. A layup from TAMIU pulled them to within one point again at 41-40. Two free throws by the Dustdevils gave them a 42-41 lead. With 2:56 left, Raynor hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 42-42.
 
Neither team could score in the final 2:55. The Jets and Dustdevils both had opportunities, including free throw attempts for both teams, but neither could convert in the final minutes, allowing the game to go to overtime.
 
The Jets shot just 25.4 percent (16-23), including 12.5 percent in overtime. They shot only 21.7 percent (5-23) in the second half.
 
NU held a 27-17 lead at halftime.
 
TAMIU's Prieto totaled a game-high 27 points and three blocks. She added three steals and six rebounds.
 
The Jets are back in action on Saturday (Jan. 31) at 1 p.m. against St. Mary's at Fugate Gymnasium.