TOPEKA, Kan. — After a frigid shooting first half, the Newman University women's basketball team caught fire behind the 3-point line in the second half, riding to a come from behind 50-46 victory over the Washburn Ichabods Tuesday night (Nov. 27) inside Lee Arena. The Jets extend their win streak to three straight games and improve to 6-2 on the year.
The Jets' got off to a dreadful start falling behind 9-0 before sophomore guard Rylee Meloy put the Jets on the board with 7:15 left in the first quarter. The Jets' offense settled down quickly answering back with a 9-2 run cutting the Ichabods lead down to 11-9 midway through the quarter. The offensive woes quickly came back as the Jets ended the first quarter scoreless for the final 5:02, trailing Washburn 15-9 after one.
Early in the second, Kaitlyn Potter ended the Jets 5:19 scoring drought with one of her two second quarter 3-pointers. The Newman offense went frigged late in the quarter going scoreless for the final 3:08. The Ichabods took a 26-19 lead into the locker rooms, closing the quarter on a 5-0 run.
Midway through the third quarter Kaitlyn Potter continued to thread the needle swinging the momentum to the Jets. Potter drilled two more 3-pointers cutting the Ichabods lead to 30-27 with 4:22 to play. Bria DeGrate gave the Jets their first lead of the game with 2:54 to play in the third after sinking four straight free throws. Newman continued to stay hot from behind the 3-point line, as Haley Albers sank the Jets third 3-pointer of the quarter. Potter continued to be the offensive hero hitting a layup in the final seconds extending the largest lead for the Jets at 37-30. Newman closed the quarter on a 13-0 run, outscoring Washburn 18-4 in the third.
DeGrate extended the Jets run to 15-0 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, however Washburn stormed back with a 6-0 run of their own after back-to-back Jets turnovers cutting the lead down to 39-36. The Jets continued to stay red hot from behind the 3-point line with huge treys from Albers and DeGrate giving the Jets room to breathe down the stretch. The Jets were able to hold off a late 6-0 Ichabods run, grabbing the 50-46 victory.
Kaitlyn Potter and Bria DeGrate were the lone Jets to finish in double-digit scoring. Potter led the way for the Jets with 14 points on 4 of 10 shooting from behind the 3-point line, while DeGrate ended up with 13 points, dishing out four assists.
The Jets will continue their road trip Saturday afternoon (Dec. 1) against another MIAA opponent, No. 25 Emporia State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm inside W.L. White Auditorium.
