WICHITA, Kan. — The Newman University women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to hold off Central Christian University Monday evening (Dec. 17) inside Fugate Gymnasium, 76-60. The Jets hit big shots when needed them the most, finishing 5-for-6 from the floor in a 3-plus minute span securing the win. The Jets improve to 7-4 on the season, while the game for the Tigers counted as an exhibition game.
After not playing for tweleve days, the Jets started the game out cold from the field 0-4, before guard Kaitlyn Potter ended a 5-0 Tigers run 2:20 into the contest. The Tigers jumped out to their largest lead at 18-9 with under a minute to play, until Faith Mason-Vestal ended the run with a layup in the final seconds of the quarter. Despite poor shooting, the Jets only trailed 18-11 after shooting a frigged 3-for-19 from the floor and 1-for-12 from behind the three point line.
In the first minute of the second quarter the Jets cut the Tigers lead down to 18-15 with a pair of layups. A pair of free throws from Mason-Vestal knotted the score at 19-19 with seven minutes to play in the half. Midway through the quarter Potter hit her second three-pointer of the game, giving the Jets their first lead, 21-20. Sophomore, Braxtyn Stewart extended the Newman lead with back-to-back three pointers, during a 9-2 run. The Jets headed into the halftime break leading 32-30, despite shooting 33.3-percent from the field.
Midway through the third quarter, a Mason-Vestal jumper gave the Jets their largest lead of the game. The Tigers however stormed back with a 10-0 run regaining a 46-43 lead with 3:45 to play. Potter halted the Tigers run with a jumper, ending a scoreless streak of 3:30. The Jets closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, after a Potter three-pointer fell just before the third quarter buzzer, giving Newman a 50-46 lead heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Arkansas City, KS native Potter as the Tigers defense lost sight of the sharp shooter. Potter scored 15 of the Jets 26 points, putting the game in cruise control down the stretch. Potter finished the fourth quarter shooting 5-for-11 from the field going 3-for-6 from behind the three point line. The Tigers cut the deficit to five points, before the Jets ran away with the final margin settling at 16.
Potter led the Jets in scoring, setting a new season high with 28 points. Mason-Vestal posted her first double-double of the season tying a season high with 11 points and 12 boards. Bria DeGrate and Dede Johnson finished with 10 points each.
The Jets bench outscored the Tigers 48-5.
The Jets will head back out on the road Wednesday (Dec. 19) against Missouri Western for their final game before the Christmas break. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside MWSU Fieldhouse at Looney Complex in St. Joseph, Mo.
