WICHITA, Kan. – The long wait ends Friday (Nov. 9) as the Newman University women's basketball team opens their 2018-19 season hosting the Heartland-Lone Star Challenge this weekend. The Jets open the season against Cameron and conclude the weekend challenge, Saturday (Nov. 10) against Midwestern State.

The Jets along with the Aggies, Mustangs and the Oklahoma Christians Falcons will all start what they hope to be a successful season inside Fugate Gym this weekend. The Jets will play in the second game each day, taking on Cameron at 6 p.m. Friday before facing off with MSU on Saturday at 4 p.m. OCU will take on the opposite team two hours prior each day.

A win on Friday would be the Jets 2nd-straight year to begin a season with a victory. The Jets are 6-5 in season openers since the 2007-2008 season.

After a 17-12 finish last year, the Jets enter the season picked to finish fourth in the Heartland Conference. The Jets lost their leading scorer from last season and will look to senior guard, Bria DeGrate the second leading scorer a year ago for the Jets averaging (10.3 ppg) while pulling down 3.5 rebounds per game. The Jets return Abbey George and Haley Albers coming off solid freshman seasons. George finished second for the Jets in rebounds per contest averaging 5.0 a game. The dual threat post and outside shooter Albers, led the Jets in 3-pointers made last season knocking down 33 treys.

The Jets added two junior college transfers, Kaitlyn Potter and Michaela Mack. Potter finished last season in the top 15 in NJCAA scoring, averaging 20.0 points per game. Mack averaged 10.0 points per game while averaging 5.0 boards and 5.0 assists per game.  

Cameron University returns second leading scorer Ava Battese coming off a solid sophomore season averaging (12.2 ppg). Top post Lejha Smith returns for her senior year after leading the Aggies with 10.2 rebounds per contest. The Aggies finished the 2017-2018 season 13-16 overall, finishing sixth in the Lone Star Conference. Head coach Emma Andrews is in her second season at the helm in Lawton, OK.

Midwestern University returns two starters from a year ago and seven letter winners from last season's 13-14 squad. Junior Liz Cathcart returns after having a solid year averaging (6.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Chelcie Kizart returns as the top senior on the Mustangs squad coming off last season averaging (5.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, and 2.5 rbg). Noel Johnson begins her 11th season as the winningest coach in Mustangs program history. Johnson enters the 2018-2019 season with a 139-138 record.