WICHITA, Kan. – On Saturday afternoon, Newman played host to Missouri Southern State looking to start the season 1-0 inside Fugate Gymnasium.  It was a back and forth contest from start to finish with the Jets prevailing in the final minute of this contest to take the 55-51 win.

Newman would get the scoring started with a three point basket by Senior Rylee Meloy.  For most of the first quarter, both teams struggled to make baskets. At the end of the first quarter Missouri Southern (0-2, 0-2) led Newman 9-7.  In the second quarter, the Lions went on a 14-3 run to take a 23-10 advantage with 5:33 left in the first half.  MSSU would get their biggest lead of the day with 3:20 left in the first half at 15, 26-11.  The Jets would cut the deficit to 10 going into the break. 

In the start of the second half, the Jets started climbing back into the game as they would cut the deficit to two with 3:59 left in the third quarter after a layup by Makayla Hayes made the score 32-30.  The Lions were able to extend their lead back to six with 2:32 left, 36-30.  On the next possession, Makayla Hayes would once again cut down the Lion lead with a three pointer. The Jets would eventually tie the game at 38 with 29 seconds left in the quarter before Missouri Southern made two free throws to make the score 40-38 at the end of the third quarter.  The Jets outscored the Lions 22-14 in that quarter.

In the fourth quarter, it continued to be a back and forth affair with neither team gaining much separation from one another.  The game would eventually tie back up at 49 with 1:26 left.  The Lions would add a couple free throws to go up 51-49 with 1:01 left. Brooke Haney would drain a three point basket from the corner to give the Jets a 52-51 lead with 44 seconds remaining. With some stellar defense at the end of the game and a couple free throws from Abbey George and Madison Birnbaum, the Jets were able to complete the comeback and beat Missouri Southern State 55-51.

The Jets shot 16-of-57 for 28.1 percent from the floor, 6-of-22 for 27.3 percent from three and 17-22 for 77.3 percent from the free throw line.  Newman (1-0, 1-0) held Missouri Southern to 18-54 for 33.3 percent from the field and 4-of-18 for 22.2 percent from three. Newman out-rebounded the Lions by 4, 42-38, with 14 coming on the offensive end. 

Brooke Haney and Rylee Meloy each led the Jets in scoring with 10 points and 2 rebounds.  Sydney Nilles added 9 points and 6 rebounds in her debut for the Jets in the Win.

Newman (1-0, 1-0) will be back in action Tuesday, November 24^th as they host Pittsburg State with tip-off coming at 5:30 P.M.