WICHITA, Kan. — Putting up another shutdown first quarter, the Newman women's basketball team rolled to a 71-38 victory over Bethel in nonconference action Tuesday evening at Fugate Gymnasium.

KEY SEQUENCE

The Jets (3-0) held the lead late in the first half against the Threshers (4-2), but a Dede Johnson 3-pointer in the final minute was a sign of things to come in the second half. That made the lead 15 at the break, and after the Threshers hit a pair of free throws early in the third, Mel George converted a basket, followed by three straight buckets from Hannah Alexander, as Newman shot out to a 43-22 lead to take full control.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-A slow start for both teams started to pick up as Johnson's basket made it a 5-0 game at the 3:51 mark of the first. Bria DeGrate, Haley Albers, George and Alexander combined for an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to bump the lead up to 13-2, and a fastbreak off an Alexander steal led to a Johnson lay-in, helping to make it a 15-6 game after 10 minutes.

-An Erica Olerich 3-pointer boosted that lead to 12 early in the second, but the Threshers rolled up six straight points to slice the lead in half by the 6:26 mark. Johnson nailed a triple the next time down the court, and although Bethel answered with one of its own two minutes later, the Jets put together a 7-0 run behind a 3-pointer from Jazzmen Ortiz to push the lead into double digits for good.

-After the guests recovered from the shock of the run to start the second half, Newman didn't give them much time to relax. A 10-2 run to close the third quarter featured 3-pointers from Johnson and DeGrate and a pair of layups from Abbey George to extend the lead to 25 at 55-30.

-Until a late five points from the Threshers, it was all Newman in the final period, with Johnson going for five points and Iva Krstevska adding six. The lead built as large as 38 at 71-33.

NOTES

-The Newman defense was smothering once again, holding Bethel to just 22.6 percent shooting from the field and forcing 23 turnovers. In the first quarter this season, the Jets have allowed just 18 points and five total field goals.

-Johnson found her groove at home, leading the Jets with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. The junior also added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

-Newman's winning streak against nonconference opponents now stands at 13.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets make a quick turnaround to continue their busy November, facing off against Manhattan Christian Wednesday night back at Fugate Gymnasium.