Game #17

Rogers State Hillcats (2-14, 0-7) at Newman Jets (7-9, 2-5 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 15th • 5:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: NU leads series 10-3 Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2019 NU 76, vs RSU 57 in Claremore, Okla.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: Northeastern State • Saturday Jan. 18 • 1:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
In the first quarter, the Jets would start the game strong with an 8-2 run before MSSU would tie up the game with a 6-0 run with four minutes left. Newman would finish the quarter on a 7-3 run to take a 15-11 lead after the first quarter.  In the second quarter, the Jets would keep the momentum as they would get their largest lead of the quarter, 7 points, on multiple occasions.  Despite Newman shooting the long ball well in the quarter, they would make five 3 point baskets, problems ensued for the Jets as Missouri Southern State would end the half on a 16-6 run in the final five minutes to take a 37-34 lead at the half.  In the third quarter, the Jets struggled to make a basket until 7:47 left in the quarter with a Faith Mason-Vestal layup.  Missouri Southern State (4-10, 1-5) continued to put the pressure on the Jets and got their largest lead of the game, 13 points with 1:45 left in the third quarter.  Newman would cut the deficit to single digits going into the fourth quarter 53-45.  With 5:27 remaining in the final period, the Jets would go on an 18-4 run sparked by Amoni White who had 8 points and Kaitlyn Potter who had 5 during the comeback. The big run by the Jets cut the deficit to one with 34 seconds remaining. With the score 69-68, Missouri Southern State would score the final 4 points of the game to secure the 72-68 win over the Jets.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence is in his eighth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 7-9 record so far in the 2019-20 season. Spence has compiled a 567-310 record as a head women's basketball coach over a 28-year span across NCAA Division I and Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA schools. His seven years with the Jets have seen him amass a record of 113-96 overall and a 59-53 mark in Heartland Conference play. Under Spence's tenure, the Jets reached the Heartland Conference tournament in six of his seven seasons. Before coming to Newman, Spence spent one season at Barton Community College and eight seasons at Division I New Mexico State.

Kyle Bent is in his second season at the helm for Rogers State.  In his first year with the Hillcats, Rogers State reached the Heartland Conference Tournament as the four seed, the highest regular season finish in the program's Heartland and NCAA history. The Hillcats finished the season 14-14 with a 7-7 record in conference play last season.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 7-9 on the season, 2-5 in their first season in the MIAA. Newman has one player averaging double digits this season, Kaitlyn Potter at 17.3 points per game.  Abbey George leads the Jets in rebounding at 3.9 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE HILLCATS
Rogers State is 2-14 on the season, 0-7 in the MIAA. The Hillcats are led by sophomore guard Vanessa Gajdosova at 9.1 points per game.  Senior Forward Darian Jackson leads the team in rebounding at 5.6 per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fourteenth meeting between these schools, with Newman leading the series 10-3 with the latest matchup being Dec. 7, 2019 in Claremore, Okla. Where the Jets knocked off the Hillcats 76-57.

LAST TIME VS ROGERS STATE
With 3:08 left in the first half, a jumper from Michaela Mack would spark a 13-0 run that would span the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third. The big scoring run would build the Jets lead all the way up to 24 points. Newman would get their largest lead of the game in the third quarter as Braxtyn Stewart's second three of the quarter put the Jets ahead by 28 points. Rogers State would be able to pull to within 16 points, but that's as close as the game would get as the Jets would hold on for their first conference win of the MIAA era.  Newman played their best game of the season so far as they put up ten more points than they had in any of their previous games. The Jets shot 27-48 for 56 percent from the floor and 8-14 from three for 57 percent. Newman was able to hold their opponent to just 17-55 for 31 percent from the field for the game and 4-24 from beyond the arc for 17 percent. The Jets also out-rebounded the Hillcats by 14, 40-26, with 7 of their 40 rebounds coming on the offensive end. Newman also led the points in the paint battle as they had 30 to Rogers States 14.

UP NEXT
The Jets will take on Rogers State University for another MIAA conference matchup on Saturday, Jan. 18^th, 2020 starting at 1:30 P.M in Fugate Gymnasium.

LISTEN, WATCH & FOLLOW LIVE
Video streams for all of Newman's regular season contests are available on a pay per view basis on the MIAA Network. Events are available live and are immediately archived for on-demand viewing at the conclusion of the event at www.themiaanetwork.com/newman and on the MIAA Network apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Listen along to all of the Newman Jets games on The Jets Audio Network with Blake Cripps on the call at newmanjets.com/listen. You can now find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available in both the App Store and on Google Play. For all of your Newman Jets Athletics apparel needs visit nujetsgear.com!