AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore Mali Wright hit a jumper at the buzzer to give the Newman women's basketball team a 62-61 victory over St. Edward's on Saturday (Feb. 28). The Jets end the season on a three-game winning streak and finish at 10-16 overall and 7-11 in the Heartland Conference. The Hilltoppers dropped to 15-11 and 9-9 in the conference.
 
Two free throws from Cierra Tjaden put the Jets up by two at 60-58 with 1:58 remaining. The Hilltoppers tied the score at 60-60 after two free throws with 1:36 left. Both teams came up empty in their next possessions, but a Jet turnover gave SEU the ball.
 
SEU went to the free throw line with 9 seconds left. Lexi Fatheree missed the first attempt, but she put the Hilltoppers up by one, 61-60, with a made free throw.
 
Wright's shot with 4 seconds remaining was blocked, and NU retained possession. Wright got another chance hitting a jumper with 1 second left for the 62-61 win.
 
The Jets made a huge comeback as they were down at 20 points in the second half. A 3-pointer with 7:50 left in the half put SEU up 28-8. The Jets cut the deficit to only eight points at 37-29 at halftime.
 
With the Hilltoppers up, 41-32, with 17 minutes remaining, NU went on an 8-0 run to pull to within one at 41-40 with 14:10 left. Naomi Rosales got a three-point play to start the run. A Brianna Caldwell 3 with 14:50 left cut the deficit to three points at 41-38, and NU closed to within one after a Kesha Buckner layup with 14:10 remaining.
 
SEU quickly pulled back out to an eight point lead at 48-40. The Jets responded again with an 8-1 to get to within one at 49-48 at the 8:44 mark. The score remained close for the rest of the contest.
 
Buckner scored a game-high 14 points, going 5-for-5 from the field. She added six rebounds, a team high. Wright added 12 points and pulled down five rebounds.
 
The Jets shot 41.3 percent (19-46) from the field, including 52.4 percent (11-21) in the second half. NU went 7-of-15 from the 3-point line for 46.7 percent.
 
The Hilltoppers were 39.6 percent (21-53) from the field, but the NU defense held SEU to 24 percent (6-25) in the second half.
 
NU finishes the season at 10-16 and 7-11 in the Heartland Conference. The Jets won three straight games to end the season.