Game #28

Fort Hays State (21-6, 12-6 MIAA) at Newman Jets (11-16, 6-12 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 29 • 1:30 P.M. Wichita, Kan. • Fugate Gymnasium 
Series Record: FHSU leads series 8-1 Last Meeting: Feb. 6^th, 2020 NU 58 FHSU 78
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
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LAST TIME OUT
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.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence is in his eighth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 11-16 record so far in the 2019-20 season. Spence has compiled a 571-317 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 113-97 overall and a 59-53 mark in Heartland Conference play. During 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.

Tony Hobson enters his 12th season as head coach of the Fort Hays State women's basketball program in 2019-20. Hobson is one of the most successful collegiate women's basketball coaches in the nation, entering his 28th year overall with a career record of 650-200 (.765). He ranks eighth in win percentage among active coaches in NCAA Division II with a four-year college win percentage of .770 (448-134). Hobson is the winningest coach in program history, posting a record of 237-94 in 11 seasons at Fort Hays State (.716).

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 11-16 on the season, 6-12 in their first season in the MIAA. Newman has one player averaging double digits this season, Kaitlyn Potter at 17.1 points per game.  Abbey George leads the Jets in rebounding at 4.6 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 21-6 on the season, 12-6 in the MIAA. The Tigers are led by senior guard Kacey Kennett at 12.4 points per game and have three other players averaging double figures. Bell Barbieri leads the team in rebounding at 8.9 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the tenth meeting between Newman and Fort Hays State with the latest meeting being Feb. 6^th, 2020 where the Tigers knocked off the Jets 78-58 in Hays, Kan.

LAST TIME VS. FORT HAYS STATE 
To begin the game, the Jets were able to attack and defend well against the Tigers.  The Jets were able to limit Fort Hays State (17-4, 8-4) to 28 percent from the field in the first quarter, which allowed the Jets to gain a 17-11 lead after one quarter of play.  In the second quarter the Tigers started to get comfortable as they would outscore the Jets 26-13 in the second quarter on 12-16 shooting from the field to gain a 37-30 lead at the intermission.  In the second half, Newman would be able to keep the Fort Hays lead at single digits for most of the half but Fort Hays State continued attacking the Jets especially in the paint where the Tigers would outscore the Jets 32-14.  Fort Hays State would get their largest lead of the game at 22 points, 76-54, with 2:41 left.  The Tigers were able to coast to victory for most of the 4^th quarter as they took down the Jets 78-58.

UP NEXT
If the Jets win on Saturday they will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to compete in the MIAA tournament, but if the Jets lose their season will be complete.

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 now find all things Newman in the Newman Jets Athletics app available in both the App Store and on Google Play. For all of your Newman Jets Athletics apparel needs visit nujetsgear.com!