Game #15

Newman Jets (7-7, 2-3 MIAA) at Pittsburg State Gorillas (7-5, 3-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 9th • 5:30 P.M. Pittsburg, Kan. • John Lance Arena
Series Record: Pittsburg State leads 1-0 Last Meeting: Nov. 16, 2010 NU 71, vs PITT 83 in Pittsburg, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: Missouri Southern State • Sat. Jan. 11 • 1:30 P.M. • Joplin, Mo.

LAST TIME OUT
The Newman Jets hosted the Central Missouri Jennies Monday night inside Fugate Gymnasium.  The Jets came up just short of the MIAA leading Jennies as they fell 62-59.  In the first quarter, Kaitlyn Potter broke the Newman career three pointers made record with her 151st made three with 2:46 left in the quarter. In the second quarter the back and forth scoring continued until Newman would go on a 11-2 run midway through the quarter to get their largest lead on the game, 8 points with 5:03 left. Newman would lead by 4 points at the half 37-33.  In the second half, Newman would go ice cold shooting 9-30 from the field, and would get outscored 29-22 by Central Missouri (10-3, 4-0). 

THE COACHES
Darin Spence is in his eighth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 7-7 record so far in the 2019-20 season. Spence has compiled a 567-308 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.

Amanda Davied is in her second year as head coach at Pittsburg State Women's Basketball Program in 2019-20.  Davied guided her alma mater to a berth in the 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Tournament in her debut season, becoming the first Pitt State head coach in program history to enjoy a 20-win season in year one of their tenure. During her tenure on the Pitt State staff (2004-present), the Gorillas have compiled a 311-174 overall record (.641), capturing an MIAA regular season title in 2017 and making six trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) including a pair of Elite Eight appearances (2012, 2016).

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 7-7 on the season, 2-3 in their first season in the MIAA. Newman has one player averaging double digits this season, Kaitlyn Potter at 16.6 points per game.  Abbey George leads the Jets in rebounding at 4.3 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 7-5 on the season, 3-1 in the MIAA. The Gorillas have four players averaging double figures led by sophomore guard Tristan Gegg at 17.8 points per game.  Junior guard Maya Williams leads the team in rebounding at 8.4 per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the second meeting between these schools in Newman's Division II era, with Pittsburg State leading the series against the Jets 1-0 with the latest matchup being Nov. 16, 2010 in Pittsburg, Kan. where the Gorillas knocked off the Jets 83-71.

UP NEXT
The Jets will take on the Missouri Southern State University for another MIAA conference matchup on Saturday, Jan. 11^th, 2020 starting at 1:30 P.M.

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 find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available on both the App Store and on Google Play.