FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Newman women's basketball team used another second half rally Thursday evening (Feb. 7) pulling out a thrilling 62-61 overtime victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Jets extend their win streak to two straight improving to 14-8 on the year and move into sole possession of second place in the Heartland Conference (5-3),
After gaining the early 2-0 lead in the opening minute, the Newman offense went ice cold from the field shooting 3-of-13 from the field in the first quarter. The Lions on the other hand caught fire shooting 7-of-10 from the field in the opening quarter. The Lions outscored the Jets 18-5 in the final 9-minutes taking an 18-7 lead into the second quarter.
It took just over-3 minutes for the Jets to end an 0-for-8 shooting drought as sophomore Braxtyn Stewart dialed up a trey putting the Jets in the scoring column in the second quarter, halting the Lions 11-1 run. After missing 12 of their last 13 shot attempts Faith Mason-Vestal put an end to the drought with a layup underneath cutting the Lions lead down to 27-14 with 2:24 to play in the first half. Newman would cut the Lions lead down to 10-points after a DeDe Johnson triple with 1:47 to play in the half, but the Lions would extend it to 28-17 heading into the break.
The Jets defense forced nine turnovers in the first half, but were out rebounded 24-9 through the opening two quarters.
Despite the poor offensive first half, Stewart sparked the Jets right out of the halftime break hitting her second triple trimming the Fort-Smith lead to 28-20. Midway through the third after a 3-minute scoring drought, the Jets cut the Lions lead to a one possession game 35-32, after a Kaitlyn Potter triple with 1:43 to play in the quarter. The Jets would trim the Lions lead to 39-37 as Potter connected on her second trey of the quarter beating the final buzzer to end the third.
In the fourth quarter it continued to be the Potter show as she drilled her third and fourth three-pointers of the game guiding the Jets to their first lead since the 2-0 mark 51 seconds into the opening quarter. Potter capped her own 8-0 run knocking down a jumper guiding the Jets to their largest lead of the game 44-41 with 7:37 to play. The Lions would storm back with a 9-0 run regaining the lead 50-46 with 3:26 to play. In the final minute, Potter would drill her third triple of the quarter knotting the score up 52-52 sending the game into overtime.
DeDe Johnson knocked down the opening points in the extra frame with a triple giving Newman the 55-52 advantage just 9 seconds into the period. The Lions fought back outscoring the Jets 9-3 over the next two minutes taking a 61-56 lead with just 2:52 to play. Newman would cut the deficit to 61-60 with 2:00 minutes left after back-to-back Potter and Mason-Vestal. After the Lions, Ellie Lehne missed a pair of free throws late, Bria DeGrate made the Lions pay recording her lone points of the game hitting the game winning layup underneath with 15 seconds left securing the Jets 62-61 comeback win.
The Jets were led by Kaitlyn Potter's 22 points in just 24 minutes. Mason-Vestal finished with 15 points and one rebound shy of a double-double. Dede Johnson added in 13 points knocking down three triples.
The Jets will return home Saturday (Feb. 9) looking for revenge of an earlier loss suffered to the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. inside the Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan.
