Game #12
Newman Jets (3-8, 3-8 MIAA) at Rogers State Hillcats (3-8, 3-8 MIAA)
Monday, Jan. 25 • 5:30 P.M. Claremore, Okla. • Claremore Expo Center
Series Record: NU leads series 11-3 Last Meeting: Jan. 15^th , 2020 NU 76 RSU 64 in Wichita, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
Up Next: vs Washburn • Thurs. Jan 28 • 5:30 P.M. • Wichita, Kan.

LAST TIME OUT
The Jets were able to jump out to a five point lead halfway through the first quarter, but the Bearcats would close out the half with five straight points to tie the game at 10 heading into the second quarter of play. After an early basket for NWMSU, Faith Mason-Vestal would score four straight points followed by a three from Madison Birnbaum to take the lead back for Newman 17-12 with a little over six minutes left in the opening half. After evening the score up, the Bearcats would score the final three points of the half to take a 23-20 lead into the intermission.  Northwest Missouri State (4-6, 4-6) would continue their momentum they finished the first half with as they would be able to build up a nine point lead, the largest for either team so far in the contest, with just over five and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The Jets would be able to cut the lead to just four points heading into the final period.  Brooke Haney would score a layup in the first possession for the Jets to make the NWMSU lead just two points. The Bearcats would stretch the lead back out to six points before Faith Mason-Vestal would score two baskets split by a Bearcat made free throw to cut the lead back down to three points. NWMSU would then answer with three triples on three out of their four ensuing possessions to jump out to a 12 point lead with 2:30 left in regulation. Northwest Missouri State wouldn't look back after that as they would stretch the lead to as much as 14 in the final two minute before closing out the Jets 57-47.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence begins his ninth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 3-8, 3-8 in the MIAA record so far in the 2020-21 season. Spence has compiled a 593 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.
Kyle Bent is in his third season as the Rogers State Women's Basketball head Coach.  Bent has a career record of 18-38 at Rogers State and in his first season helped the Hillcats to Heartland Conference tournament appearance where they were defeated in the quarterfinal round to St. Edwards.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 3-8 on the season, 3-8 in the MIAA. Newman is led in scoring by Senior Guard Brooke Haney at 12.4 points per game.  Madison Birnbaum leads the Jets in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE HILLCATS
Rogers State is 3-8 on the season, 3-8 in the MIAA. The Hillcats are led in scoring by Samariah Thompson at 20.0 points per game. Bailey Kliewer leads the Hillcats in rebounding at 5.4 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 15th meeting between these two schools with the Jets leading the series 11-3 over Rogers State including four of the last five meetings that went in favor of the Jets.

LAST TIME VS ROGERS STATE
Newman would dominate the first half outscoring Rogers State (2-15, 0-8) 42-25, thanks to their outside shooting. The Jets went 7-14 from 3 point range in the first half. The Jets bench came up big in this game outscoring the Hillcats 61-28.  In the fourth quarter, the Jets would get their largest lead of the game at 23 points two different times with baskets by Faith Mason-Vestal with 9:04 left and 7:58 left. Later in the quarter, the Hillcats would cut the deficit to single digits with 2:16 left, 65-59. The Jets would be able to put the game away late, outscoring the Hillcats 11-5 in the final two minutes to secure the 76-64 victory.

UP NEXT
The Jets will host Washburn on Thursday, Jan. 28^th with tip-off at 5:30 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.