TULSA, Okla. – For the first time since 2012, the Newman women's basketball team will play for the Heartland Conference Tournament title on Sunday afternoon (Mar. 10), as the Jets used a monster third quarter Saturday evening (Mar. 9) defeating the third seed St. Mary's 59-52. The Jets improve to 21-9 on the season, extending their winning streak to seven games, while the Rattlers finish the season 18-10.
Both teams struggled to shoot the ball in the first half with St. Mary's hitting just 27 percent of their shots while the Jets shot at a 26 percent clip. The two teams headed into the break knotted up 17-17.
The shooting struggles quickly went away to begin the third quarter as sophomore Abbey George scored the opening four points during an 11-3 run jumping the Jets out to a 28-20 lead with 5:16 to play in the period. After the Rattlers pulled within 32-27 with 2:04 to play in the third, junior Kaitlyn Potter and senior Bria DeGrate drilled back-to-back three pointers stretching the Jets lead to double-digits taking a 38-27 lead into the final 10 minutes.
In the opening minute of the fourth quarter, the Jets took their biggest lead of the game at 41-27 on a three-pointer by sophomore Haley Albers. Poor ball security by the Jets left the doors open for the Rattlers as they trimmed NU's lead to 42-38 following an 11-1 run. DeGrate helped withstand the Rattlers push scoring five of the next seven points for the Jets extending the lead back out to eight, 49-41 with 3:23 to play. In a game that had not seen any free throws shot through the first three quarters, the Jets converted 8-of-11 charity shots over the final two minutes to earn a spot in Sunday's title match.
DeGrate led the charge scoring a game-high 22 points and grabbing six rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Albers and George provided strong minutes in the frontcourt for the Jets who played the second half without the services of Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year Faith Mason-Vestal who left before halftime with an injury. Albers finished with 10 points off the bench while sharing the game-high in rebounds with George who tacked on six points of her own.
The Jets play Sunday in the Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament final against top-seed Lubbock Christian. The Jets and Lady Chaparrals split the season series with both teams winning at home this year.
Tip-off for the Heartland Conference Women's Championship Game is slated for 12:00 p.m. inside the UMAC in Tulsa, Okla. Those unable to attend can watch the game online at heartlandsports.org or listen to the game on local radio Kansas Country 92.3.
