CLAREMORE, Okla. — A second straight smothering first half helped the Newman women's basketball team finish its first weekend of the season unbeaten with a 76-54 victory over Western New Mexico Saturday evening.
KEY SEQUENCE
A 14-3 start to the game gave the Jets (2-0) the boost they needed in the first five minutes against the Mustangs (0-2), but after Western New Mexico answered with a basket on the next possession, Newman responded by holding its opponent to 1-for-9 from the field the rest of the quarter and rolled off a 15-2 run to take a commanding lead after 10 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Up 4-3 early, Newman got a pair of baskets each from Nia Roberts and Hannah Alexander to key a 10-0 run and go up by double digits. After the Mustangs momentarily cut it to a single digit lead at the 4:32 mark, Alexander, Abbey George and Bria DeGrate each netted four points to close the quarter with a 22-point lead.
-After an even first few minutes of the second period, Roberts and Alexander each hit a shot to bump the lead to more than 30 for the first time, up 45-14 with 4:40 left in the half. Monica Hanna scored Newman's final six points of the quarter, answering each time Western New Mexico tried to put a run together.
-A 10-0 run from the Mustangs during the third quarter helped slice the lead back down to 15 at 58-43. DeGrate nailed a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the period to halt that spurt though, and that started a 7-2 run for the Jets that lasted six minutes into the fourth to help right the ship. Newman nailed six straight free throws in the final four minutes to hold the Mustangs at bay.
NOTES
-Through its first two games, Newman is outscoring opponents 91-41 in the first half and 45-12 in the first quarter. In those first 10 minutes of games, the Jets have given up just three field goals on 11.1-percent shooting.
-Alexander led the Jets with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Roberts posted her first double-digit scoring effort in a Newman uniform with 14 points to go with five assists and four rebounds, while George turned in 10 points and eight boards.
-Newman extended its nonconference winning streak to 12.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets continue a busy start to the season with their home opener Tuesday, hosting Bethel at Fugate Gymnasium.
