LUBBOCK, Texas – The Newman women's basketball team completed its final conference road game of the regular season Thursday evening against Lubbock Christian but dropped a close 60-55 contest.
 
KEY SEQUENCE

After a back-and-forth third quarter for both the Jets (17-9, 7-7 Heartland) and Chaparrals (14-10, 9-4 Heartland), LCU would pull out in front by 10 points at 48-38 with 7:58 to go in the fourth quarter. Newman would battle back though and get within one point at 56-55 with 54 seconds remaining but the Chaparrals hung on to win 60-55 by hitting free throws down the stretch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Cierra Tjaden finished a layup to earn the first points of the game for either team with 8:42 to go in the first quarter. Mali Wright would get the next two baskets for the Jets to back up 6-5 with 5:17 remaining in the first quarter of play.
 
-Iva Krstevska would get back-to-back baskets, which included a layup at the first quarter horn, to put Newman back out in front at 15-14 heading into the second quarter of play.
 
-A 12-4 run for the Jets in the second quarter would give them their biggest lead of the game at 29-21 with 2:45 on the clock. Wright started the run with a jumper, followed by a Krstevska free throw but then Wright hit three consecutive jumpers and Bria DeGrate finished the run by knocking down a 3-pointer. The Jets would take a 29-28 lead into intermission.
 
-There was five lead changes during the third quarter alone. Natalia Hausmann led the way during the third quarter with five points, while Wright and Krstevska each added two points a piece. Lubbock Christian took a 41-38 lead into the final quarter of play.
 
-The Chaparrals went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter, which resulted in a 48-38 lead with 7:58 to go. Hannah Alexander would sink a jumper to stop the run but a Wright jumper pulled the Jets within six points with 4:47 remaining on the clock.
 
-Wright got another jumper to fall, while Alexander rolled in a layup and also sank two free throws to bring Newman within three points at 52-49 with 3:52 left. The Jets got within one point of the LCU lead at 56-55 with 54 seconds remaining but the Chaparrals hit free throws to hang on to win 60-55.

LEADERS

Newman
Points: Wright, 20. Assists: Tjaden, 3. Rebounds: Wright, 5. Steals: Jazzmen Ortiz, 1.
 
Lubbock Christian
Points: Tess Bruffey, 30. Assists: Bruffey, 2. Rebounds: Bruffey, 11. Blocks: Bruffey, 3. Steals: Bailey Haist, 1.

NOTES
 
-Wright led the way for the Jets in scoring with 20 points. It is the third time this season that she has at least scored 20 points in a game.
 
-After the game this evening the Jets remain in sixth place in the conference standings but still have a chance at being the fifth seed in the conference tournament, depending on the next two games and potential tiebreakers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
Newman comes back home to take on St. Mary's Thursday for homecoming at Fugate Gymnasium.