Game #2
Pittsburg State Gorillas (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) at Newman Jets (1-0, 1-0 MIAA)
Tuesday, Nov.24 • 5:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: PSU leads series 2-0 Last Meeting: Jan. 9, 2020 PSU 81 NU 69 in Pittsburg, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: Kansas State • Fri. Nov. 27 • 6:00 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
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 COACHES
Darin Spence begins his ninth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 1-0, 1-0 in the MIAA record so far in the 2020-21 season. Spence has compiled a 591 wins as a head women's basketball coach over a 29-year span across NCAA Division I and Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA schools. His eight years with the Jets have seen him amass a record of 120-112 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 begins her third season as Women's Basketball coach for Pittsburg State for the 2020-21 season.  During her time at Pittsburg State, she has guided them to a berth in the 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Tournament with a 21-9 record, becoming the first Pitt State head coach to win 20 games in her first season at the helm.  She also has a career record of 38-20 as head coach including a 17-11 record last season.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 1-0 on the season, 1-0 in the MIAA. Newman has two players averaging double digits this season, Rylee Meloy and Brooke Haney at 10.0 points per game.  Abbey George leads the Jets in rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 0-1 on the season, 0-1 in the MIAA. The Gorillas have one player averaging double digits this season, Kaylee DaMitz at 22 points per game.  DaMitz also leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third meeting between these two schools with Pittsburg State leading the series over Newman 2-0 with their latest matchup on Jan. 9^th, 2020 in Pittsburg, Kan. where the Gorillas defeated the Jets 81-69.

LAST TIME VS PITTSBURG STATE
In the first quarter, the Jets would find themselves in an early hole.  After trailing by 10 points after the end of the first quarter, Newman would fight back to cut the deficit to 4 with 8:49 left in the first half.  Leading 43-39 with 2:53 left in the first half, the Gorillas would score the final 4 points of the half to take a 47-39 lead at the half. In the second half, after both teams would exchange baskets, Pitt State (8-5,4-1) would go on a 7-2 run to get their largest lead of the quarter at 11 points with 5:14 left in the 3^rd quarter.  Newman would respond with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 6 with 4:19 left in the 3^rd quarter.  The Gorillas would take an 8 point lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter.  To begin the fourth quarter, Pitt State would go on a 10-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 16 points with 6:52 left in regulation.  With 3:00 left and trailing by 15, the deficit was to much as Newman would fall 81-69.

UP NEXT
The Jets will host Kansas State on Friday, Nov. 27 for an exhibition game starting at 6:00 PM 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 is 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 in both the App Store and on Google Play.