Games 11 & 12:  Newman (2-8, 0-4 MIAA) @ #12/#7 Nebraska-Kearney (8-1, 3-0 MIAA)
Friday, December 17, 2021 | 5:30 p.m. | Kearney, Neb. (Health & Sports Center)
Audio:  The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM (Play-by-Play:  Jayson Jorgensen) | Video:  MIAA Network
 
@ #5/#14 Fort Hays State (7-1, 2-1 MIAA)
Sunday, December 19, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. | Hays, Kan. (Gross Memorial Coliseum)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network
 
(The team's WBCA Coaches Poll ranking is first, followed by the ranking in the D2SIDA Media Poll)
 
A VERY ROUGH ROAD
Newman wraps up the 2021 calendar year with two road matchups against ranked opponents.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Jets missed 10 of 12 shots in the third quarter as Washburn took an early second-half lead they would never relinquish staving off the Jets 51-40 in NU's last home game of the year December 11 in Wichita.  The teams were knotted at 15 after 10 minutes and the second was a defensive struggle as the Navy & Red took a 25-22 lead into the break.  Washburn broke the ice in the third with a 17-6 advantage in the frame while holding the Jets to just 15 second-half points.  Britney Ho led Newman with 12 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets fell earlier in the week 71-57 to Emporia State.
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
Newman ended last year's pandemic-abbreviated season 4-18 while playing all 22 games within the MIAA.  The Jets return six players from a year ago, including two of their top three scorers from that team.  NU will suit up two seniors this season while welcoming six freshmen to the program.  They are joined by one redshirt freshman, Elise Kaiser, a Hesston product who missed last season with a preseason knee injury.  Rounding out the NU roster are five juniors and two sophomores.  Transferring to join the new coaching staff are former Circle High School Thunderbird Carissa Beck (Butler County), Russell High School product Tiffany Dortland (Barton County), Bishop Carroll Golden Eagle multi-sport star and Wichita native Britney Ho (Northeastern State), and former Goddard Lion Torri Vang (Cowley County).
 
TOP RETURNERS
Faith Mason-Vestal is the Jets' leading-returning scorer after tallying 10.2 ppg a season ago.  She is also the top-returning rebounder for NU after grabbing 4.7 rpg last season.  Mason-Vestal was also a steady scorer at the free throw line, logging the second-most makes last year while shooting 80% from the line.  She also turned into a defensive presence inside and led the Jet block party last season with a team-high 20 rejections.  Sydney Nilles returns at point guard to orchestrate the Jet offense after leading the Navy & Red with 64 assists last season as a freshman against just 58 turnovers.  She's also one of Newman's top returning defenders, logging the second-most steals for the Jets last year with 22 takeaways.  Makayla Hayes is the leading returning 3-point shooter off last year's squad after connecting 15 times on 63 attempts (24%) last season, though Nilles has the highest returning percentage after drilling 13 of 35 to shoot a team-high 37% from the arc last year.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Nebraska-Kearney notched its third 20-win season in four years in 2020-21 with a 23-4 mark overall while going 19-3 in the MIAA.  The Lopers won their first-ever MIAA Tournament and their first conference tournament overall since claiming the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament crown in 2004 under the direction of coach Carol Russell.  UNK made their eighth-straight postseason appearance last season and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since losing in the first round in 2009.  UNK has now tallied four winning seasons in a row with three of the four seasons featuring fewer than 10 losses.  UNK's season came to an end in the Central Regional Final against the MIAA-rival Jennies of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.  The Lopers had previously suffered six losing campaigns in their seven previous seasons before this run to the top of 'The Association'.  Lopers basketball history dates back to 1905, but UNK claims a 'modern era' of Loper basketball that begins with the 1968-69 season.  As a program, Nebraska-Kearney is seeking its 20^th national tournament appearance and 15^th NCAA bid.  It would be the first consecutive berths into the Big Dance since making the trip to March Madness three-straight times from 2007-2009.
 
Fort Hays State has been one of the MIAA's most consistent teams over the last decade.  The Tigers finished 22-4 last season while winning the program's third MIAA championship over that span and second of the last three years.  The Tigers have notched 10-straight winning campaigns and each of those seasons have featured at least 20 FHSU victories including two 30-win seasons.  The 10-straight 20-win seasons are two more than the program had in over 40 prior seasons of women's basketball competition.  FHSU's season a year ago came to an end after back-to-back Top 25 losses to #14 UNK in MIAA Tournament semifinals and to #20 Central Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 
The Tigers have made six of the program's seven trips to the NCAA Tournament over the last seven seasons.  The Tigers are seeking their eighth trip to March Madness in 2022 and their fifth Big Dance in a row.
 
The Tigers host NU's travel partner Central Oklahoma on Friday.
 
THE SERIES
UNK leads the series 5-1 and has won back-to-back games in the series.  UNK leads 2-0 in games played at the Health & Sports Center and is up 3-1 in MIAA games against the Jets after sweeping last year's contests.
 
Fort Hays State leads the series 19-1 and has won 10 in a row over the Jets.  NU's only win came in 2010 in Wichita.  FHSU leads 11-1 in the NCAA Division II era of the rivalry and 4-0 in MIAA conference games after sweeping the Jets last year.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Nebraska-Kearney blew the Jets away with a 25-10 fourth quarter to turn a tight game into a comfortable 60-40 win February 6, 2021 in Kearney.  The Jets shut down the Loper offense over the first three quarters holding UNK to under 39% shooting in each frame.  The Jets trailed by one at the half, but NU scored just six points in the third quarter to let UNK grow the lead.  The lid came off the basket for the Lopers in the fourth thanks to 63% shooting from the floor as UNK hit all six of their three-pointers attempted.  Faith Mason-Vestal led NU with 11 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Fort Hays State used a late second-quarter run to power to a halftime lead they wouldn't relinquish in a 68-50 victory over the Jets in Hays February 4, 2021.  The #11 Tigers started the game with an 8-0 run, but NU answered with a 13-5 run in the second to take a 24-23 lead.  The Tigers took control of the game with an 11-3 run in the minutes leading into halftime and NU couldn't get closer in the second half.  Makayla Hayes led the Jets with 14 points off the bench on 3 of 7 shooting from the perimeter.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Newman begins a new era in 2021 as the Jets welcome Drew Johnson and Nicole Ohlde-Johnson to Wichita as the new leaders of Jets Women's Basketball.  The husband-and-wife team didn't have to travel far to Wichita, moving from just minutes up the road after spending four seasons at Bethel College where Drew was the head coach and Nicole was his associate head coach.  Drew Johnson compiled a 64-53 record in North Newton, while going 51-41 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play.  Under their leadership, the Johnsons helped Bethel to its first ever 20-win season as the Threshers went 20-10 and hosted their first KCAC Tournament game inside Thresher Gym in 8 years.  In their final year at the helm, the Johnson led the Threshers to a 16-10 season while going 16-6 in the KCAC, delivering the program's first ever NAIA National Tournament appearance.
 
The Johnsons bring with them a wealth of basketball experience both on and off the court.  Ohlde-Johnson, a Clay Center, Kan. native, played collegiately at Kansas State University where she was a two-time first-team All-American and departed as the school's all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker.  Ohlde-Johnson was drafted in the first round of the 2004 WNBA draft and played seven years in the league and helped the Phoenix Mercury win the 2009 WNBA title.  After playing in Europe, Ohlde-Johnson founded the Nicole Ohlde Basketball Academy with Drew serving as a player trainer and coach for the club competing on the AAU circuit.
 
Prior to becoming the Bethel head coach, Drew Johnson previously served on the high school girls basketball coaching staff at Valley Center, Derby, and Clay Center High Schools in Kansas.  Johnson is a Wichita native and Friends University graduate.  Johnson was a two-year captain and four-year starter for the Falcons football program and earned All-KCAC honors as a punter.  As part of Ohlde Basketball Academy and Ohlde Elite, the Johnsons coached players that went on to play at all levels of basketball including the Big 12, Big East, Missouri Valley, MIAA, and KCAC.
 
LEADING THE LOPERS & TRAINING THE TIGERS
Carrie Eighmey is in her seventh season as Nebraska-Kearney's head women's basketball coach.  Eighmey entered the season 181-92 overall with a 113-61 record in Kearney.  Eighmey has led the Lopers to the MIAA Tournament in each of her first six seasons on the bench and made her first NCAA Tournament appearance last season while claiming her first conference tournament title.  Eighmey entered the season 73-47 in MIAA play.  The last two seasons have been her best in Kearney with a combined 49-10 record.  In nine years of head coaching, Eighmey has finished with a losing record just twice.  Eighmey previously was the head coach at Hastings College (Neb.) under her maiden name of Hofstetter.  There, after a 15-16 season in 2012-13, she led the Broncos to two NAIA Tournaments with an impressive 45-15 record over her last two seasons with two trips to the Elite Eight and a Final Four appearance in 2015.  Eighmey is a native of Sandy Creek, Neb., where she starred for the Cougars and was part of four straight NSAA Class C-2 titles and played during a 95-game winning streak for the powerhouse high school program.  As a player at Hastings, she set school records for assists and steals playing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, one of the strongest leagues in the NAIA. 
 
Tony Hobson is in his 14^th season at Fort Hays State and is the winningest coach in FHSU history.  In 30 years as a head coach, Hobson started the year with a 695-211 record and won his 700^th game in an 81-72 victory over Sterling College earlier this season.  Hobson started the year 282-105 on the bench in Hays with a 174-84 MIAA record.  Hobson is in the top ten in NCAA Division II active coaches with a winning percentage of .773 at four-year schools.  Following a 39-43 record over his first three years with the Tigers from 2008-11, Hobson has guided FHSU to 10 straight 20-win seasons, three MIAA Titles, one MIAA Tournament championship, six NCAA Tournament appearances and twice has guided Fort Hays State to the Sweet 16.  Hobson came to Hays after seven incredible years at Hastings where he went 211-40 while winning three Greater Plains Athletic Conference championships and three NAIA national titles.  Hobson also has extensive experience coaching at the junior college level after spending three years at Barton County Community College and six seasons at Cloud County Community College.  In his last year at Barton, Hobson's Cougars finished an impressive 34-4 and won their second straight Jayhawk Conference title and a Region VI championship while finishing fifth in the NJCAA Tournament. 
 
FULL CIRCLE
The two head coaches the Jets face this week share a big time connection.  Nebraska-Kearney head coach Carrie Eighmey was named a 2004 1^st Team All-American playing for current Fort Hays State head coach Tony Hobson.  On the court she was part of 4 NAIA Tournament appearances with back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 2002-03 at Hastings College.  She then joined Hobson's coaching staff and assisted the Broncos to another national championship in 2006 before following him to Fort Hays State in the Tigers' first year in the MIAA after leaving the RMAC.  She later returned to Hastings as the head coach for three successful seasons and now leads Nebraska-Kearney against her former mentor.
 
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY…
Newman and Nebraska-Kearney are the only two programs in the MIAA who are both led by married couples.  While Drew and Nicole Johnson are in their first year with the Jets and fifth year coaching together collegiately, UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey is joined by her husband Devin for their sixth year together leading the Lopers.
 
THEY'RE HEATING UP
Newman is starting to dial in their shooting from the 3-point line.  After hitting under 25% of their perimeter shots in each of the previous six games (20-for-105, 19%), the Jets have hit over 33% of their triples in each of the last three games (12-for-27, 44%).
 
THERE IN SPIRIT
Coach Nicole Ohlde-Johnson will not be making the road trip to Kearney and Hays due to her pregnancy.  You can bet that she'll be watching and listening with great interest from Wichita!  The Newman community is excited to welcome the newest Jet into the fleet later this year!
 
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Nebraska-Kearney's ascent to the top of the MIAA can be traced back to a very important event in the life of Loper head coach Carrie Eighmey.  Coaching as Carrie Hofstetter, the Lopers went 28-30 with a 19-22 MIAA record over her first two years.  After her marriage to her top assistant coach Devin Eighmey, the Lopers have posted three 20-win seasons in the last four years with an 84-24 overall record and a 55-24 mark against the MIAA in that span.
 
MADE IN THE MIDWEST
The Jets didn't have to acquire any frequent-flyer miles to arrive on campus.  All 16 Jets hail from the Central Time Zone and represent just three different states.  Nine Jets stayed home in Kansas to play for NU, five made the trip north from Texas, and two came west from Missouri.
 
EW… GROSS…
The Jets are 0-10 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan. since joining the ranks of NCAA Division II.  Seven of the losses have come at the hands of Fort Hays State University in true road contests, five of which occurred as nonconference matchups before the Jets joined the MIAA for the 2019-20 season.  The Jets are 0-2 in the building against the Tigers in MIAA competition.
 
THE BEST OF THE BEST
The Newman women's basketball team will play back-to-back games against Top 25 teams for just the second time in program history this weekend.  The first time was last season and it was on the same road trip as the Jets fell at #11 Fort Hays State February 4, 2021 then dropped a 10-point decision two days later at #12 Nebraska-Kearney on February 6.  NU has lost four in a row against the Top 25 since beating #23 Nebraska-Kearney 66-65 February 27, 2020 in a must-win game that kept NU's 2020 MIAA Tournament hopes alive.  This will be the fifth straight season the Navy & Red have been tested by ranked competition.
 
BRINGING THEIR 'A' GAME

• Through the conclusion of non-conference play, Tiffany Dortland was seventh in the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 35%.  Dortland was also tied for seventh hitting 2.2 3-pointers per game.
• Faith Mason-Vestal was tied for 10^th in the league with 1.2 blocks per game through the end of the non-conference schedule.
• Amoni White was tied for fifth in the MIAA with 2.2 steals per game entering conference play.
• Newman's 91 points against Manhattan Christian tied for ninth most by an MIAA school through non-conference play.
• NU's 32 3-pointers attempted against the MCC Thunder were the seventh most in the league as of the end of the non-con schedule.
• NU attempted 27 free throws in a defeat to Cameron, tied for seventh most in the MIAA at the conclusion of non-conference action.
• The Navy & Red's 88% effort at the free throw line against UMary was tied for fifth best in The Association prior to MIAA play.
• The Jets' 23 assists against Cottey College were tied for third most in the league ahead of MIAA action.
• The Jets posted a season-high 17 steals against MCC, good for a tie for fourth place in the league in that category preceding conference play.

 
NU STATS N' STREAKS

• Prior to the start of MIAA action, the Jets averaged 68.7 ppg, 12^th in the MIAA.  The Jets were seventh defensively allowing just 63.5 ppg.
• The Jets look to end their four-game losing streak and six-game losing slide in conference play with a victory this week.
• Junior forward Britney Ho has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games.
• Sophomore point guard Sydney Nilles matched a career-high of three steals for the fourth time against Washburn.
• Junior forward Britney Ho scored a career-high 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting in the Jets' home defeat to Emporia State.
• Sophomore point guard Sydney Nilles tallied a career-high 8 assists in NU's loss to the Lady Hornets in Wichita.
• Amoni White set back-to-back season highs after scoring eight points at Pittsburg State and then erupting for 15 points against Missouri Southern.  In that same game against Southern, White matched a season-high with four assists.
• Junior guard Tiffany Dortland matched her career-high of nine rebounds at Missouri Southern.
• The 68-point victory for the Jets in their 91-23 blowout over Manhattan Christian updated several superlatives for the Jets.  The 68-point margin is the second-biggest win for the Navy & Red behind only NU's 69-point win over the Central College of the Bible in an 87-18 triumph November 14, 2016.  It was the first time the Jets had a win of at least 50 points since beating Randall by 57 in an 80-23 win December 14, 2019.  It was the first time NU scored at least 90 points game since NU had defeated Randall 96-37 January 7, 2019.  The also Jets forced 25 Thunder turnovers in the game, the first time the Jets had turned over a team at least 25 times since forcing 26 turnovers in a win against Lincoln January 4, 2020.
• Redshirt freshman Elise Kaiser scored a career-high 15 points in NU's victory over Manhattan Christian.  It was her first career double-figure scoring game.
• Junior guard Amoni White nabbed a career-high seven steals in NU's win over MCC.  It was the first time the Jets had a player tally at least five steals since Abbey George grabbed five steals in NU's senior day win against Arkansas-Fort Smith March 2, 2019.  The mark was one shy of the NU single-game record of eight in the Division II era set by Kesha Buckner January 8, 2015 when NU defeated Lubbock Christian in Heartland Conference play.
• Freshman center Laura Bello collected her first career double-double by grabbing a career high 11 rebounds to go along with 10 points in a Jet victory over Cottey College.
• Junior guard Tiffany Dortland matched a career high with five assists in NU's Cottey College victory.  She also registered a personal best of two blocks against the Comets.
• Bello also erupted for a career-high 19 points in just 11 minutes in the Jets' loss to Cameron.
• Transfer guard Tiffany Dortland set a program record for most points in their Newman Jets debut when she scored 27 in the season-opener against Wayne State College.  The record was previously held by Satoria Bell, who tallied 22 points in her NU debut on November 11, 2011 in a 65-58 win against Emporia State.  It was also the second-most points scored in a home or season-opening game behind only Alexandra Ciabattoni's 30-point outburst to open the 2013-14 campaign in a 66-64 victory against Rockhurst on November 9, 2013.  Ciabattoni went on to receive First Team All-Heartland Conference honors and was named the 2014 Heartland Conference Player of the Year.
• The Jets are vying for their first winning season since 2018-19 when head coach Darin Spence led the Navy & Red to a 21-10 record while finishing second in the Heartland Conference.
• NU also seeks its first 10+ win season since 2019-20 when NU finished 11-17 while going 6-13 in its first year in the MIAA.
• Newman looks to return to the postseason for the first time since 2019 when NU ended a six-game postseason losing streak with two wins in the Heartland Conference Tournament.  The Jets lost in the championship game to #25 Lubbock Christian.  The top-seeded Lady Chaparrals went on to win the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship.

 
YOU'RE NEXT!
The Jets return to action in 2022 with a January 3 road trip to Edmond, Okla., to face the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.
 
MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Katie Wagner – Fort Hays State
Week 2:  Kelsey Johnson – Central Oklahoma
Week 3:  Kelsey Johnson (2) – Central Oklahoma (2)
Week 4:  Shiloh McCool – Nebraska-Kearney
Week 5:  Shiloh McCool (2) – Nebraska-Kearney (2)