WICHITA, Kan. — Wrapping up its final roadtrip of the calendar year, the Newman women's basketball team heads to Odessa, Texas Saturday to face Texas-Permian Basin in a 1 p.m. matchup.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (6-3, 0-1 Heartland) suffered their first loss in the month of December on Thursday, falling 63-55 to St. Edward's in both teams' Heartland Conference opener. Junior Erica Olerich put up eight points and 10 rebounds, while fellow juniors Mali Wright and Brianna Caldwell each chipped in with 11 points.
Thursday's contest was just the third time Newman has allowed more than 60 points in a game this season, and the Jets are still holding opponents to 55.1 points per game and averaging 62.7 themselves. Wright's 11-point effort pushed her into double figures in scoring, as she now averages exactly 10.0 ppg, and still leads the team with 6.8 rpg. Caldwell upped her average a bit to 10.4 ppg, while senior Shaunice Robinson leads the squad with 12.0 ppg, 2.6 apg and 2.2 spg. Olerich is putting up 5.1 ppg and is second on the team with 4.7 rpg after her solid game against the Hilltoppers.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Falcons (4-6, 0-0 Heartland) will be playing their first Heartland Conference game of the year when they take on the Jets. They snapped a short two-game losing streak on Thursday, when they netted 32 points in the third quarter to take a commanding lead over Angelo State and then held on while the Rams made a comeback attempt, ultimately winning 80-74.
Four players hit double figures for UTPB, which scored more than 66 points for just the second time in 10 games this season. Khadijah Vigil netted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, upping her season averages to 9.4 ppg and a team-high 7.2 rpg. Shanna Taylor, who is second on the team at 9.7 ppg and adds 4.0 rpg, also went for 17 Thursday night, While Jau'nae Peevy poured in 11 and Elisa Gonzalez 10. The team's leading scorer, Niniva Taito (14.3 ppg) scored eight points but dished out five assists.
HISTORY LESSON
The two teams have split their 16 meetings as conference foes straight down the middle, as well as each side taking four of the eight contests in Odessa. The Jets have won six of the last nine overall to draw even in the series and have taken the last two on the Falcons' floor.
NOTES
-The Jets attempted just 47 field goals Thursday, their fewest of the season, but hit 42.6 percent of them, their best single-game shooting percentage since season-opening wins over Regis and Colorado-Colorado Springs.
-Newman dished out 13 assists on their 20 made field goals against St. Edward's, led by Robinson's six helpers, which was the best individual mark this year.
-Taito or Vigil have been the Falcons' leading scorer in nine of their 10 games so far.
-All four meetings between the teams over the past two seasons have been decided by six points or fewer, with an average of 5.5 being the winning margin.
COVERAGE
Live video and statistics for the game will be available at www.newmanjets.com.
