WICHITA, Kan. — Victors of three games in a row, the Newman women's basketball team heads south to open Heartland Conference play with a 5:30 p.m. contest against St. Edward's.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (6-2, 0-0 Heartland) have been smothering opponents' offenses through the nonconference season, giving up no more than 64 points in any of their six wins, and going over that mark just once in a loss, allowing 76 to No. 1-ranked Fort Hays State. Their 54.1 scoring defense is No. 15 in the country and second in the Heartland Conference.
Senior Shaunice Robinson netted 14 points Saturday against William Jewell to bump her team-leading average up to 12.9 ppg, and she also leads the Jets with 19 steals. Junior Brianna Caldwell is the only other Newman player to average double figures in scoring, putting up 10.4 ppg to go with 3.3 rpg and 15 steals. Junior Mali Wright is nearly in double digits with 9.9 ppg, and leads Newman with 6.9 rpg. Fellow starters Cierra Tjaden and Erica Olerich each add 4.8 ppg, while Olerich goes for 4.0 rpg and Tjaden leads the team with 2.4 apg.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Hilltoppers (2-6, 0-0 Heartland) carry a five-game losing streak into the conference opener, including losses in their last three games on their home court. The first three of those five losses came by 10 or fewer points, but were followed by losses of 35 and 14 points.
Khiani Clark paces St. Edward's with 11.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg, while also adding 14 steals and three blocks. Mileka Loydrake, who hasn't played in the past two games, puts up 11.5 ppg and leads the team with 18 steals. Shakera Barnes adds 9.5 ppg, leads the team with 4.4 apg, and chips in 4.3 rpg, and Bailey Hill goes for 8.3 ppg.
HISTORY LESSON
The series against the Hilltoppers has been one of the balanced since Newman joined the Heartland Conference. The two sides are tied 8-8 in regular-season play, with SEU taking the lead overall thanks to a single win in the conference tournament. The Jets are 4-4 facing St. Edward's in Austin, but have won three of their last four on the road against the Hilltoppers.
NOTES
-The Jets hit 75.4 percent of their free throws, which is 32nd in the country, and five players with multiple attempts shoot at least 80 percent from the line.
-Six players average better than one steal per game, helping the Jets to 86 thefts on the season, or 10.8 per game, the 39th-best number in the nation.
-Senior Kesha Buckner, who has four starts under her belt this season, has effectively come off the bench the past three games, averaging 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.6 steals over that stretch.
-SEU pulls down nearly as many offensive rebounds (15.9 per game) as defensive (20.6), led by Clark, whose 5.1 offensive boards per game is seventh in Division II.
COVERAGE
Live video and statistics for the game will be available at www.newmanjets.com.
