WICHITA, Kan. — After a nearly two-week break to recharge over Christmas, the Newman women's basketball team heads back to Fugate Gymnasium for a New Year's Eve contest against St. Mary's Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
SCOUTING NEWMAN
The Jets (7-3, 1-1 Heartland) split a pair of games two weeks ago to open Heartland Conference play, and are 4-1 over their past five outings. Newman allowed 63 points in each of those games, a 63-55 loss to St. Edwards and a 69-63 victory over Texas-Permian Basin to make it five straight and nine out of 10 total games that the Jets have allowed fewer than 65 points. Their 55.9 points allowed per game is 27th in Division II and second in the conference.
Junior Mali Wright dumped in 26 points and added seven rebounds in the win over UTPB Dec. 19. That upped her season average to 11.6 ppg, which is second on the team, and she pulls down a team-high 6.8 rpg. Senior Shaunice Robinson leads the Jets with 11.7 ppg, while also adding team-highs with 2.7 apg and 2.1 spg, and juniors Cierra Tjaden and Erica Olerich each put up 5.1 ppg, with Tjaden chipping in 2.2 apg and Olerich 5.0 rpg.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Rattlers (7-3, 1-1 Heartland) ran off a six-game winning streak before dropping two of their last three. St. Mary's split their first weekend of conference play, turning back Oklahoma Panhandle State 90-65 before falling to No. 2 Lubbock Christian 77-51. They put up 72.2 points per game while allowing 65.3, both numbers top-five in the conference.
Kiara Etheridge averages nearly a double-double per game, leading the team with 15.4 ppg and 9.9 rpg, and is one of three Rattlers who average double figures in scoring. Dezirae Elias puts up 14.5 ppg to go along with team-highs of 3.8 apg and 2.7 spg, while Arysia Porter chips in 10.6 ppg and adds 3.8 rpg and 2.0 apg. LaBraile Fields puts up 8.3 ppg, but is averaging 18.0 over her last two games, including a 20-point effort against LCU.
HISTORY LESSON
The Jets trail the Rattlers in the all-time series 12-7, but have at least split the season series in each of the past five seasons. St. Mary's has won three of the eight games played in Fugate Gymnasium, but Newman grabbed a 61-45 win there last season.
NOTES
-The Jets have won 10 of their past 13 games overall dating back to last season, and are on a four-game winning streak at home.
-Wright scored in double figures in both conference games two weeks ago, averaging 18.5 ppg on 50-percent shooting from the field and 70 percent from the line.
-Newman is leading the Heartland, hitting 75.5 percent of its free throws, which is also the 27th-best number in the country. Wright (81.3 percent) and Robinson (80.3) are fourth and sixth in the conference.
-Etheridge has put up seven double-doubles in 10 games this season, the best number in the Heartland Conference and seventh-best in the nation.
COVERAGE
The game will be carried live on 1480 AM (KQAM) in Wichita, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.newmanjets.com.
