Game #7
Central Oklahoma Bronchos (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) at Newman Jets (2-4, 2-4 MIAA)
Saturday, Dec. 19 • 1:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: UCO leads series 3-0 Last Meeting: Feb. 15^th , 2020 UCO 68 NU 60 in Edmond, Okla.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: at Rogers State • Thurs. Jan 7 • 5:30 P.M. • Claremore, Okla.

LAST TIME OUT
Newman would start the scoring off with a three point basket to gain the early advantage.  For most of the first quarter, both teams were exchanging baskets with one another but the Tigers would take a four point lead going into the second quarter.  For the beginning of the second quarter it continued to be a back and forth contest with neither team gaining much push against one another and we would go to the half with the Tigers leading the Jets 22-21.  In the beginning of the second half the Jets would score to get the lead with a jumper by Faith Mason-Vestal.  After that moment, the Tigers would take control of the game starting with a 12-0 run to lead by 11 with 6:14 left. The teams would exchange baskets until the Tigers closed out the third quarter and began the fourth on a 21-3 run taking a 53-32 lead. The Tigers would defeat the Jets 68-48.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence begins his ninth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 2-4, 2-4 in the MIAA record so far in the 2020-21 season. Spence has compiled a 592 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.

Guy Hardaker is in his 15th season as the Head Coach of the Bronchos.  He has helped Central Oklahoma win 102 games over the past five seasons.  He led Central Oklahoma to the schools only five Division II national tournament appearances and five of the school's seven 20-win seasons.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 2-4 on the season, 2-4 in the MIAA. Newman is led in scoring by Senior Guard Brooke Haney at 12.7 points per game.  Madison Birnbaum leads the Jets in rebounding at 5.5 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 2-3 on the season, 2-3 in the MIAA. The Bronchos are led in scoring by Kelsey Johnson at 24.8 points per game. Johnson also leads the Bronchos in rebounding at 9.8 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fourth meeting between these two schools with the Bronchos leading the series 3-0 over Newman including the season series last year.

LAST TIME VS CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Newman came out firing on all cylinders in the opening period as they would put up 21 points in the quarter behind 6 from Kaitlyn Potter and 5 from Abbey George. Trailing by 8 going into the second period, the Bronchos (17-7, 11-5) would be able to get the Jets lead down to 3 multiple times in the quarter, but Newman was able to build it back to a 6 point game heading into the break. Potter would score 10 points in the quarter to lead all scorers with 16 at the half. UCO's offense would get better as the game would go on, scoring more in every quarter than the previous.  Despite Newman being able to match their largest lead of 8 early in the third, the Bronchos would come out of the intermission on fire. Central Oklahoma would go on a 14-7 run in the final 6 minutes of the third, taking their first lead of the game at one point, but the Jets would hold on to a one point lead heading into the final period. Newman would extend the lead back to three to begin the fourth quarter, but UCO would respond with a basket of their own to cut it back down to 1 point. That would lead to the eventual final lead change when the Bronchos would make a three point basket to take a 2 point lead with 8:10 remaining. Central Oklahoma would be able to get the largest lead for either team at 11 points with 4 minutes left to play. Newman would then go on a 7-0 run to make it a two possession game with just over a minute left in regulation. After 2 Broncho free throws, a Madison Birnbaum three would make it a 3 point game with 57 second left. The Bronchos would only miss one free throw down the stretch as they were able to hold on for an 8 point victory over the Jets, 68-60.

UP NEXT
The Jets will start 2021 on the road as they take on Rogers State on Thursday, Jan. 7^th with tip-off at 5:30 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 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.