HAYS, Kan. — Playing its fourth game in five days, the Newman women's basketball team hung tough, but ultimately fell to Fort Hays State 76-63 Saturday afternoon in nonconference play.

KEY SEQUENCE

A layup from Abbey George cut it to just a four-point deficit for the Jets (4-2) with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter against the Tigers (4-0). The margin had stayed around that number for much of the game, but Fort Hays scored a quick five points to turn it into a nine-point lead, and by the end of the third, the hosts led 60-48, giving them some cushion heading into the final 10 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Haley Albers hit a 3-pointer just under two minutes into the game to lift the Jets to a 5-2 lead. The Tigers retook the lead and held on for the rest of the quarter, but things slowed down in the middle portion, with just one combined field goal over a nearly five-minute span. Erica Olerich's basket with 1:40 on the clock cut it to 13-9, a lead FHSU held heading into the second.

-A Hannah Alexander steal led to a three-point play out of George 90 seconds into the second quarter to slash the lead to one at 15-14. The Tigers followed with a 3-pointer to push it back out to four, and slowly built a nine-point advantage they still held onto at 31-22 with 2:51 to go before the half. The Jets didn't back down though, hitting three 3-pointers — one each from Braxtyn Stewart, Jazzmen Ortiz and Dede Johnson — to answer every strike from FHSU and keep it 38-34 at the intermission.

-Back-to-back baskets from Ortiz and Albers made it 40-38 two minutes into the third. Free throws from Alexander and Bria DeGrate, followed later by George's bucket, all slashed the lead back to four before the Tigers went on their run to close the frame. Albers hit three 3-pointers in the fourth to help pace Newman in a balanced final quarter between the two teams.

NOTES

-Albers, a freshman, made the first start of her collegiate career, and made the most of it, going for a game-high 19 points and adding nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

-Newman won the battle of the glass against the Tigers, pulling in 42 rebounds. Six different Jets posted at least five boards.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets return home for another matchup against an MIAA opponent, facing off against Emporia State Monday evening at Fugate Gymnasium.