FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Facing off against an in-state foe, the Newman women's basketball team grabbed a big win, topping Metro State 57-53 Friday afternoon at the North Star Invitational Friday afternoon.
KEY SEQUENCE
The Jets (5-2) led since the midpoint of the first quarter, but the Roadrunners (3-3) ran off 11 straight points late in the fourth to suddenly make it a one-point game. Bria DeGrate grabbed a steal, and Sheanna James sank a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to put some space between Newman the opponents. Cierra Tjaden sank another from the line with six ticks left as the Jets held on for the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Metro State took the early lead, going up 4-2 before Hannah Alexander hit a jumper to tie it at 4-4. A single free throw from Mali Wright gave the Jets the lead for good with 5:55 left in the first quarter, but Newman held on throughout a tight game.
-A DeGrate layup made it a five-point game at 12-7 with two minutes left in the opening frame, and two free throws out of Natalia Hausmann pushed that lead to 16-10 early in the second quarter.
-Hausmann dumped in a 3-pointer with 2:03 left in the first half to push the lead to 28-21, and Newman led by five at the break.
-Another layup from Hausmann bumped the margin back out to seven points, as did another basket from James. Tjaden's bucket after an MSU turnover made it an eight-point game at 36-28 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.
-Alexander's jumper with just over four minutes left in the period pushed the lead to double digits for the first time at 40-30, and that was the margin at the end of three as well.
-James' lay-in with just under three minutes to play made it a 54-42 game before the Roadrunners climbed back in it, but Newman held the lead to seal the victory.
LEADERS
Newman
Points: Alexander 18. Rebounds: Hausmann 9. Assists: James 3. Steals: DeGrate 4. Blocks: Hausmann 1.
Metro State
Points: Jaelynn Smith 16. Rebounds: 2 with 5. Assists: Smith 3. Steals: 4 with 1. Blocks: none.
NOTES
-The Jets have now won five consecutive games, their first five-game winning streak since corralling five in a row late in the 2013-14 season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Newman finishes out the North Star Invitational with a matchup against California State-Stanislaus Saturday afternoon.
