TULSA, Okla. – After looking dead in the water late in the third quarter, the Newman women's basketball team stormed back in the final 2:37, closing the game on a 15-0 run securing a spot in the Heartland Conference Semifinals for the first time since the 2013-2014 season, with an opening round 68-59 win over Oklahoma Christian.
The win extends the Jets winning streak to six straight, while securing just their second ever 20 win season since becoming a Division II program, moving to 20-9 on the season, while the Eagles conclude their season 12-15.
After having the lead for the majority of the first quarter and most of the second quarter, the Jets were unable to stretch a lead pass three points. Just before the halftime break the Eagles gained all momentum closing the final 1:51 on a 5-0 taking a 26-24 lead into the halftime break.
In the third quarter, junior Kaitlyn Potter trimmed the OC lead to a one possession game 32-29 with 4:03 left in the quarter drilling her first three-pointer of the game. However the Eagles answered right back jumping out to their largest lead of the game 42-31 with 1:58 to play after a 10-2 run. Looking as if things were getting out of control for the Jets, senior Bria DeGrate and sophomore Haley Albers continued knocking on the Eagles door knocking in a pair of free throws each. Potter would cap a 7-0 run to end the third dialing up her second three-pointer of the quarter giving the Jets life 42-38 heading into the fourth.
Needing a win to continue the season Potter extended the Newman run 10-0 drilling her third trey of the game putting the Jets down 42-41 just 11-seconds into the fourth. Despite having only a one point lead the Eagles continued to battle, stretching the lead back to six points three different times over the next five minutes.
Looking as if all hope was gone, DeGrate and Potter began the comeback rally knocking down four straight free throws cutting the Eagles lead to 59-57 with 1:59 to play. After an OC offensive foul, Potter dialed up her third triple of the quarter, fifth of the second half giving Newman their first lead of the second half 60-59 with 1:36 to play. After a defensive steal and DeGrate layup, senior Dede Johnson converted on 6-of-6 free throws completing the comeback 68-59 win. The Jets closed the game on a 15-0 run while outscoring the Eagles 30-17 in the fourth.
Kaitlyn Potter led the Jets with 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting from behind the three-point line. Bria DeGrate finished with 18 points while converting on all 10 free throw attempts. Faith Mason-Vestal finished with 10 points in 24-minutes of action.
The Jets will get the winner of the No. 3 St. Mary's and No. 6 Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday (Mar. 9) in the Heartland Conference Semifinals.
