Games 9 & 10:  Newman (2-6, 0-2 MIAA) vs. Emporia State (5-3, 0-2 MIAA)
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 5:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network
 
vs. Washburn (1-6, 0-2 MIAA)
Saturday, December 11, 2021 | 1:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network
 
HOME SWEET HOME
Newman returns to Fugate Gymnasium for its first two MIAA conference games in Wichita this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Jets trailed big early and couldn't climb out of the hole in a 59-51 setback at Missouri Southern Saturday, December 4.  The Lions took their biggest lead of 17 with just over three minutes to go in the first half when Newman got its engines revving with an 11-2 run to end the half, including a 7-0 spurt over the last 85 seconds of the period.  NU got as close as one in the second half, but could never pull tied and MSSU held on to win the only matchup between the schools this season.  Amoni White led the Jets with 15 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets fell earlier in the week at Pittsburg State 88-50.
 
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
Emporia State had a successful 2020-21 season culminating in a return to the NCAA Tournament after going 18-7 overall with a 17-5 mark in the MIAA.  The Lady Hornets were eliminated in the MIAA Tournament semifinals by Fort Hays State and fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to #8 Minnesota-Duluth 76-70 in overtime in a game hosted by Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.  ESU is the winningest program in the MIAA since 1999-2000 with a record of 545-152 (.783) in games over that span while posting a 319-100 (.763) record in conference action in that time.  Emporia State has won at least 20 games 22 times out of the last 25 seasons.  ESU boasts the eighth winningest NCAA Division II women's basketball program ever with an all-time record of 965-416 (.699).  The Lady Hornets are seeking their 23^rd NCAA Tournament appearance which should be their 24^th, but ESU does not claim its 2020 NCAA bid as the Big Dance was cancelled by the NCAA due to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic.  Counting 2020, ESU has made the NCAA Tournament three straight years and has missed the Big Dance just three times (2002, 2011, 2018) since making their first-ever bid to March Madness in 1997.
 
Washburn overcame a slow start to finish 12-12 while going 11-11 in MIAA games in 2020-21.  Washburn lost three of four to start the year before winning three of their next four and a topsy-turvy year didn't allow WU to get rolling last season, ending a streak of 19-straight winning seasons.  The last time Washburn didn't finish above .500 was in head coach Ron McHenry's first year on the bench in 2000-01 when the Lady Blues finished 13-14, going 7-11 in MIAA play.  Last year ended a stretch of four consecutive winning records in MIAA play as well.  The 12-win total was the lowest in McHenry's tenure on the bench in the capital city.  Washburn came into the season as the ninth winningest program in NCAA Division II women's basketball history with an all-time 957-449-1 (.681) record and a 501-263 (.656) mark in conference games.  WU seeks its 17^th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2013.
 
THE SERIES
Emporia State leads the all-time series 19-3 and has won seven of the last nine against the Jets.  ESU leads 8-3 in NU's NCAA Division II era.  All three of Newman's wins have come at Fugate Gymnasium.  The Jets are 1-3 against the Lady Hornets in MIAA play.
 
Washburn leads the all-time series 9-4 and has won 2 of 3 from the Jets, but NU has taken three of the last five.  The series is 4-3 Washburn in NU's DII era and Washburn leads 2-1 in MIAA play.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Emporia State jumped out to a 9-3 lead and used big first and fourth quarters to stop the Jets 85-65 in Wichita January 30, 2021.  After trailing 22-12 through the first 10 minutes, the Jets played the middle two quarters level, allowing Emporia State to advance the lead just two points entering the fourth.  But in the fourth quarter, Emporia State built their 12-point lead to 21 with 7:16 left in regulation and the Jets could never trim it below 14 the rest of the way.  Sydney Nilles led the Jets with a career high 16 points as ESU swept the season series.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets were punished for two bad quarters as Washburn used a 14-6 lead after ten minutes to provide their cushion on the way to a 65-49 victory in Wichita January 28, 2021.  The Jets won the second and fourth quarters by identical 16-14 scores, but the Ichabods hit 8 of 11 shots in the third quarter to outscore the Jets 23-11 in the frame.  NU started the game ice cold missing 10 of 12 shots in the first quarter on the way to shooting just 36% for the game.  Faith Mason-Vestal was the only Jet in double figures with 12 points as the Ichabods split the season series.
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.
 
REIGNING OVER THE SWARM & WORKING FOR WASHBURN
Toby Wynn is the seventh head coach in Emporia State women's basketball history and is in his fourth year in Emporia.  Wynn entered the year 64-23 at the helm for the Lady Hornets and his teams have earned an NCAA Tournament bid in each of his first three seasons.  Wynn joined the swarm after a successful 13-year stint at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan.  There he led the Saints to a 349-84 record and began the year 413-107 overall in 16 total seasons.  The Saints posted five 25-win seasons to close out his time as a junior college coach and the Coronavirus-shortened 2020-21 season is his only campaign in Emporia in which he did not lead the Lady Hornets to at least 20 wins.
 
Ron McHenry is in his 22^nd year on the bench for Washburn and is the winningest coach in school history.  McHenry entered the year with a career record of 476-164, all in the capital city with a 284-117 MIAA record.  Washburn reached 12 consecutive NCAA tournaments between 2002 and 2013 under his direction while winning eight regular season league crowns and seven MIAA Tournament titles.  McHenry got his start at Washburn as a player before joining the men's basketball staff as a graduate assistant to legendary head coach Bob Chipman.  After coaching as an assistant at Perry High School and with the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association, McHenry returned to the Washburn campus to rejoin Chipman's staff and remained there for 11 seasons while also serving as the head coach of Ichabod men's golf for eight seasons.  McHenry has 14 20-win seasons and three 30-win seasons as Washburn's head coach.
 
AN INAUSPICIOUS START
All three teams are off to an 0-2 start in conference play.  It is the first time NU has started 0-2 in the MIAA and NU's first 0-2 conference start since dropping two to start Heartland Conference action in the 2016-17 year.  The Lady Hornets are 0-2 in the MIAA for the first time since 2012-13.  The good news for both squads is both of those teams turned their seasons around.  The Jets finished 2016-17 with a 19-10 record while going 9-7 in the Heartland Conference earning a Heartland Conference Tournament bid.  The Lady Hornets finished the 2012-13 season 23-9 with a 13-5 MIAA record.  ESU went on to win the MIAA Tournament and make the Sweet 16 in March Madness.  Washburn is 0-2 to start conference play for the second straight year.  Washburn finished 12-12 last year and lost in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament.
 
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.
 
WHAT'S IN A NICKNAME?
Washburn University changed the nickname of its women's teams from Lady Blues to Ichabods at the start of the 2013-14 season.  After head coach Ron McHenry's first season coaching the Lady Blues, Washburn went an astonishing 342-71 and never finished worse than second in the MIAA standings over a 12-year stretch.  The Lady Blues made the NCAA Tournament every year during the run.  Since changing to the Ichabods name, Washburn entered the year a far more pedestrian 134-93 over the past nine seasons and has not made the Big Dance since their last season as the Lady Blues in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
 
TURNPIKE TUSSLE
Emporia State and Washburn are each other's primary rivals and they call their rivalry the Turnpike Tussle.  Named for the toll road completed in 1956 connecting Kansas City, Topeka, Emporia, Wichita, and the Oklahoma border, the Turnpike Tussle is one of the MIAA's fiercest rivalries.
 
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 a four-game losing streak in conference play with a victory this week.
• Amoni White set back-to-back season highs last week 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.
• Senior forward Faith Mason-Vestal lost a streak of six straight games in double-figures when she scored a season low two points in the Jets loss to 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 forward Britney Ho matched NU career highs in points and rebounds with 12 and nine respectively in the Jets victory against MCC to wrap up nonconference play.
• 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.
• Sophomore point guard Sydney Nilles set a new career high with seven assists in a loss to Wayne State College to open up the season.
• 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 are on the move for their last two games of 2021 at Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State next week on a rare Friday/Sunday road trip.