WICHITA, Kan. — With a week off since its last competition, the Newman women's basketball team gets back to action Thursday, starting a two-game homestand against Rogers State in Heartland Conference action at Fugate Gymnasium.

SCOUTING NEWMAN

The Jets (9-6, 3-4 Heartland) are on a two-game winning streak while playing some of their best basketball since starting conference play. A 70-53 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State was followed up with an 81-61 victory a week ago over Oklahoma Christian, who entered the game alone in third place in the standings. Mali Wright and Shaunice Robinson each netted a 20-point game for the Jets against OC, with Lizzy Harrison and Natalia Hausmann each scoring in double digits as well.

                LEADERS

                Mali Wright, Junior-13.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 44.9 FG%

                Shaunice Robinson, Senior-12.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 spg, 80.0 FT%

                Brianna Caldwell, Junior-9.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.3 spg, 34.5 3FG% (38-of-110)

                Erica Olerich, Junior-4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 43.5 FG%

                Cierra Tjaden, Junior-4.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Hillcats (9-5, 4-3 Heartland) started their conference slate 3-0 before running into a rough three-game stretch against the top three teams in the standings. RSU dropped all three, going to overtime on the road against Texas A&M International and giving No. 2 Lubbock Christian its closest game of the conference season thus far. The Hillcats got back on track with a big second half in a 60-56 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday, with Emily Gamble going for 10 points and 11 rebounds and Kami Bunch and Courtney Smith each going for 13 points.

                LEADERS

                Kami Bunch, Senior-10.1 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 79.4 FT%

                Natasha Kindred, Junior-10.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 52.6 FG%

                Rachel Block, Junior-7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 spg

                Emily Gamble, Senior-6.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.0 spg

                Courtney Smith, Junior-5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.4 spg, 37.9 3FG% (25-of-66)

HISTORY LESSON

The Jets are a perfect 4-0 against the Hillcats in the team's Division II era, earning season sweeps in each of the past two years. The wins have not been easy though, as outside last year's 55-41 victory in Wichita, the wins have come by one, two and three points.

NOTES

-The game against the Hillcats is the second of the Jets' toughest stretch of the season, which will see Newman face all six of the teams ahead of it in the Heartland Conference standings over seven games.

-The Jets have allowed just 57.0 points per game over their two-game win streak, 11.6 fewer than over their first five conference games, and under their season-long average of 59.3. Newman also held OPSU and OC to just 35.9-percent shooting.

-At the same time, the Jets have put up their two biggest offensive outputs in the conference season over the past two games, averaging 75.5 points, which is nearly 13 points better than their season average. That run is boosted by 60-of-124 shooting (48.4 percent) and just 11 turnovers in each game.

-Wright is back on track with two straight 20-point games, going for 28 against OPSU and 20 against OC to make it four 20-point games in her last six games. The junior also is pulling down 12.0 rebounds over the two-game stretch.

-RSU's 58.9 scoring average is the second-lowest in the conference, but the Hillcats make up for it with the second-best scoring defense, allowing just 55.3 points per game. When that defense is on, RSU is successful, as it is 9-2 when allowing fewer than 68 points.

COVERAGE

Thursday's 5:30 p.m. tipoff will be broadcast live on 1410 AM (KGSO) in Wichita, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.newmanjets.com.