Game #5
Nebraska Kearney Lopers (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) at Newman Jets (2-2, 2-2 MIAA)
Thursday, Dec. 10 • 5:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: UNK leads series 3-1 Last Meeting: Feb. 27, 2020 NU 66 UNK 65 in Wichita, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: vs Fort Hays State • Sat. Dec. 12 • 1:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
The Ichabods would jump out to an early lead in the first quarter behind hot shooting as they would make five three point baskets. After trailing by ten, 24-14, at the end of the first quarter, Newman would settle into their offense and defense in the second quarter as they would score eleven points while holding Washburn to just four. The Jets would trail by just three points heading into halftime.  To start the third quarter, Washburn was able to build their lead back up to nine points early in the quarter. As the quarter went on, the Jets were able to chip away at the lead getting the score as close as one point before the Ichabods would close the quarter out on an 8-0 run to take a nine point lead into the final quarter of play. The past would repeat itself for the Jets on the backend of this half much like it did in the first half as Newman's offense would catch fire and their defense would shut down the Ichabods. The Jets would score 21 points in the quarter led by Brooke Haney 7 points, and Madison Birnbaum and Braxtyn Stewart who had 5 points apiece in the quarter. Stewart would knock down a jumper with 32 seconds left to give the Jets their first lead before Haney would ice the game with a pair of free throws.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence begins his ninth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 2-2, 2-2 in the MIAA record so far in the 2020-21 season. Spence has compiled 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 8-15 record in MIAA Conference play as well as 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.

Carrie Eighmey enters her 4th season as head coach of the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball program in 2020-21. Eighmey has a career coaching record of 158-88 in leading the Loper and Broncos programs for a total of eight seasons. Hastings won 25 and 28 games, respectively, in 2014 and 2015, reaching the NAIA Division II Tournament national quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals a year later.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 2-2 on the season, 2-2 in the MIAA. Newman is led in scoring by Senior Guard Brooke Haney at 12.5 points per game.  Madison Birnbaum leads the Jets in rebounding at 6.8 rebounds per game. Abbey George is only 6 rebounds away from being 2^nd in school history in rebounds in her career here at Newman.
ABOUT THE ICHABODS
Nebraska Kearney is 2-0 on the season, 2-0 in the MIAA. The Lopers are led in scoring by Haley Simental at 10 points per game. Klaire Kirsch leads the Lopers in rebounding at 8.0 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between these two schools with the Lopers leading the series 3-1 but the Jets have won the previous meeting 66-65 last season.

LAST TIME VS NEBRASKA KEARNEY
Newman would fall behind early in the contest as the Lopers would start the game on a 10-0 run.  The Jets would respond as they would go on a run themselves scoring the next 8 points to make the Lopers lead two, 10-8 with 4:52 left in the first quarter.  UNK would end the first quarter on a 8-4 run to take a 18-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.  In the second quarter, the Lopers would take control leading by as many as 14 points, 26-12 at the 7:39 mark.  With 2:06 left in the first half and Nebraska Kearney leading 34-24, the Jets would finish the quarter on a 7-0 run to trail by three at the intermission.  In the second half, Newman would start the scoring off with an Abbey George layup to make the score 34-33 at the 9:40 mark in the third quarter.  Nebraska-Kearney (25-4, 14-4) controlled most of the third quarter, but Newman kept fighting, eventually tying the game at 45 with 2:24 left in the third quarter.  Newman would get its first lead of the game after two free throws from Haley Albers would give the Jets a 47-45 lead with 1:43 left in the quarter.  Both teams would exchange baskets and Newman would take a 1 point lead into the fourth quarter.  In the fourth quarter, with the Lopers leading 60-55, Kaitlyn Potter hit a 3 point basket to cut the deficit to two 60-58 with 1:50 left.  UNK would follow hitting a jumper to make the lead back to four with 1:33 left.  Another Kaitlyn Potter three point basket would cut the deficit back to one, 62-61 with 36 seconds left.  The Lopers would go one of two from the line to go ahead by two, 63-61.  With 24 seconds left, Newman would come down the court looking to get the win. After a missed three point attempt by Madison Birnbaum, Michaela Mack would get the offensive rebound, make the put back and get fouled, giving her the chance at a three point play. Mack would make the free throw to give the Jets the lead with four seconds left.  On the ensuing possession, the Jets would commit a foul while the ball was out of bounds giving the Lopers a chance to take the lead, they would make both free throws to take a 65-64 with 4.1 seconds left.  After a timeout by the Jets, Newman had one more shot as Kaitlyn Potter would escape a double team in the corner by her bench and bank in a floater with .6 seconds remaining on the clock to give the Jets the lead 66-65. The Lopers tried to get a shot off, but would be unsuccessful as the Jets would upset Nebraska-Kearney 66-65 keeping their hopes of making the MIAA Tournament alive.

UP NEXT
The Jets will continue their homestand as they host Fort Hays State on Saturday, Dec. 12 with tip-off at 1:30 PM.
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.