WICHITA, Kan. — Kicking off play in the final month of the regular season, the Newman women's basketball team starts off a quick two-game homestand by facing Oklahoma Panhandle State Thursday evening at 5:30 at Fugate Gymnasium.

SCOUTING NEWMAN

The Jets (9-10, 3-8 Heartland) just finished a tough two-game roadtrip to southern Texas to face two of the league's better teams last weekend. They stifled the Texas A&M International offense into the second half before ultimately falling 58-36, and hung with third-place St. Mary's for the entire game despite dropping a 67-59 decision. Cierra Tjaden averaged 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists over the weekend, while Bria DeGrate posted a career-high 17 points against the Rattlers

                LEADERS

                Shaunice Robinson, Senior-12.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 81.2 FT%

                Brianna Caldwell, Junior-9.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 spg, 88.9 FT%

                Natalia Hausmann, Junior-5.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg

                Erica Olerich, Junior-4.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 42.5 FG%

                Cierra Tjaden, Junior-4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Aggies (1-17, 0-10 Heartland) are in search of their first conference victory as the second half of the conference season gets going. They've given teams close games this season, including hanging with Texas-Permian Basin in a 62-59 loss and giving Rogers State a run for its money before ultimately falling 60-56. A tough matchup against No. 1 Lubbock Christian was OPSU's only game last week, with Tatyana Bell putting up 16 points and five rebounds in a 100-57 defeat.

                LEADERS

                Tatyana Bell, Senior-15.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 45.8 FG%, 85.5 FT%

                Brittany Alavinejad, Senior-6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg

                Charron Johnson, Senior-6.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg

                Kietta Saunders, Sophomore-5.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg

                Hannah Whitaker, Junior-4.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.3 bpg

HISTORY LESSON

A 70-53 victory on the road by the Jets on Jan. 9 put Newman back in the win column against the Aggies after OPSU won the final meeting of 2014-15 to snap a 14-game winning streak by the Jets. Mali Wright led Newman with 28 points and 15 rebounds in the first matchup, while Robinson added 18 points, three assists and three rebounds and Caldwell went for 13 points and six boards. The Jets haven't lost to the Aggies at home in eight meetings as conference foes.

NOTES

-DeGrate, a freshman, is making the most out of her chances on the court, earning the start in each of the past six games and averaging 7.0 ppg, 1.5 apg, 2.8 rpg and 1.2 spg over that stretch. She turned in perhaps her best game of her young career Saturday against St. Mary's, going for 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, pulling down five rebounds and turning the ball over just once in 27 minutes.

-Olerich continues to be a power on the glass for the Jets, pulling in nine rebounds against the Rattlers and 15 total last weekend. The junior has grabbed no fewer than four boards against a conference foe this season, and is fourth in the league, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game in conference play.

-The Jets have put out a number of different starting combinations this season, with 10 different players earning at least one start. That group includes two freshmen and six juniors.

-The Aggies have proven capable of getting to the free throw line, putting up 444 attempts, or nearly 25 per game. OPSU will make opponents pay for sloppy play on offense as well, forcing 17.1 turnovers per game, which is fourth in the Heartland.

COVERAGE

The game will be broadcast live on 1410 AM (KGSO) in Wichita, with live video, audio and statistics available at www.newmanjets.com.