WICHITA, Kan. – To begin the homecoming festivities Thursday evening at Fugate Gymnasium, the Newman women's basketball team treated the fans to a fast paced contest with St. Mary's, picking up a big 73-68 victory.
 
KEY SEQUENCE
 
The Jets (18-9, 8-7 Heartland) were up by double digits throughout most of the game but the Rattlers (19-6, 11-4 Heartland) would not go away in the third or fourth quarter, getting as close as two points to the Newman lead late in the final quarter. The Jets would hang on to win a close one by hitting free throws down the stretch to take down the No. 5 team in the regional rankings.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
-Mali Wright scored the first-eight points of the contest for Newman to get out to an 8-2 lead with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter. St. Mary's would tie it up at 8-8 but a Cierra Tjaden 3-pointer broke the tie to put the Jets up 11-8 with 3:14 on the clock in the first.
 
-A huge 18-3 run for the Jets in the second quarter gave the Jets a 31-17 lead with 3:33 remaining in the first half of play. Jazzmen Ortiz and Wright accounted for six points a piece, while Natalia Hausmann added five points and Sheanna James chipped in one to complete the scoring for Newman during the run.
 
-Newman would close the first half of play on a 9-2 run to take a 40-21 lead into halftime. Wright started the run with a jumper, which was followed by a Hannah Alexander jumper. James knocked down a jumper as well and Ortiz finished the run with a 3-pointer as time expired in the first half.
 
-With 5:42 remaining in the third quarter the Jets would be out to their biggest lead of the game with a score of 49-28, which came from a 7-0 run. Newman would take a 55-41 lead into the final quarter of play.
 
-The Rattlers would cut into the Jet lead and get within six points with 6:11 remaining in the game. A 6-2 run got Newman back out to a 10-point lead but St. Mary's would not go away, getting within two points at 63-61 with two minutes left.
 
-Newman would hang on to win the contest 73-68 by knocking down six free throws down the stretch.
 
LEADERS
 
Newman
Points: Wright, 22. Assists: Alexander, 5. Rebounds: Hausmann, 8. Blocks: Hausmann, 2. Steals: Tjaden, 3.
 
St. Mary's
Points: Kiara Etheridge, 24. Rebounds: LaBraile Fields, 3. Rebounds: Etheridge, 16. Blocks: Etheridge, 3. Steals: Etheridge, 7.
 
NOTES
 
-Newman outscored St. Mary's 27-9 in the second quarter of play, 3-of-3 from behind the arc. During the quarter the Jets could not miss, shooting 81.8 percent from the field and finishing with a 52.1 shooting percent for the game.
 
-Wright led the way for Newman with 22 points, which is the second straight conference game by scoring at least 20 points for the senior.
 
-On the defensive end of the ball the Jet defenders forced 19 turnovers and held the Rattlers to a 34.4 shooting percentage for the contest.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
Newman remains at home for its final home game of the regular season by taking on Texas A&M International at 1 p.m. It is also Senior Day for three Jet players, come out and show your support.