WICHITA, Kan. — A tough season a year ago gave plenty of new faces a chance to get up to speed with game action for the Newman women's basketball team, and with the squad on the brink of the 2016-17 campaign, they look to reap the benefits of dealing with that learning curve.
The Jets, who went 12-15 overall and 6-12 in Heartland Conference play a year ago, have a new look, with one player back from an injury last year, a few others moving around on the court, and still more new faces set to play key roles. Altogether, that has head coach Darin Spence ready for his team to kick off a tough nonconference slate.
"Overall we for sure want to get to the top four in the conference, so we get to wear those light colored jerseys on the first day at the conference tournament," Spence said. "As far as trying for a conference title or anything like that, we'll worry about that later in the year. Our nonconference schedule is tough and we want to be able to use that to get better. We want to be the best defensive team around, and be able to score some points."
The Jets open up play this weekend, hosting the Heartland/RMAC Challenge at Fugate Gymnasium, facing Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday at 6 p.m. and Regis Saturday at 3 p.m.
Season Breakdown (2015-16 Statistics in Parentheses)
Guards
Returners: Bria DeGrate, So. (24 GP, 19.5 min., 5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.0 apg); Melody McLaughlin, Sr. (19 GP, 7.2 min., 1.3 rpg); Iva Krstevska, So. (23 GP, 11.4 min., 2.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg).
Newcomers: Jazzmen Ortiz, Jr. (At Pratt CC: 27 GP, 8.7 min., 7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.2 apg); Hannah Alexander, Jr. (At West Texas A&M: 32 GP, 14.3 min., 4.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg); Sheanna James, Jr. (Redshirted).
Coach Speak: "The top guards on our team this year has to start with Hannah. She should be able to score some points for us. Bria got valuable playing time last year, and she's looking good. Our two point guards, Jazzmen Ortiz and Sheanna James, both will have to lead us offensively and defensively, not necessarily with points, but to be able to lead on both ends of the floor. Iva, another sophomore, we're looking to have her fill into a bit of a shooter, and she's capable of it."
Forwards
Returners: Natalia Hausmann, Sr. (27 GP, 20.7 min., 7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg); Mali Wright, Sr. (16 GP, 25.1 min., 12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Cierra Tjaden, Sr. (26 GP, 27.8 min., 4.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg); Parris Wilkinson, So. (11 GP, 3.5 min.); Melanie George, So. (22 GP, 8.9 min., 1.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg).
Newcomers: Carolina Bianchi, Jr. (At Western Texas JC: 26 GP, 7.7 min., 4.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.1 apg); Abbey George, Fr.; Kendra Butler, Fr.
Coach Speak: "Natalia had a productive junior year for us, and she's capable of putting up numbers. I think she's one of the 'Big Three' with Natalia, Hannah and Mali. Cierra Tjaden, it seems like she's been here forever, and she's just that kind of 'glue' player for us. Mali's got to be a scorer, a rebounder, and a mature defender for us this year, and I think she's capable of being an all-conference-level player. An X-factor may be our freshman Kendra Butler, who can do some things, but has to figure it out still and grow out of the freshman stage."
