ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Newman Jets and Missouri Western Griffons finally got to face off on Tuesday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse. After having the game moved two different times, the Griffons would use a big third quarter to come out on top of the Jets, 71-54.
After a back and forth opening to the contest, the Griffons would lead the Jets 9-7 with just under three minutes left in the quarter. Newman would close out the quarter outscoring Missouri Western 13-2 to take a 20-11 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Jets would stretch their lead up to as much as ten points on a
Madison Birnbaum four point play as she would sink a three point basket and draw the foul. With Newman up 24-14, Missouri Western would score the next ten points to tie the game up 24-24 with six minutes left in the first half. The Jets would answer the Griffons run with a 7-0 to close out the second quarter, taking a 31-24 lead into the intermission.
Both teams would trade baskets to begin the second half with the Griffons cutting the Jets lead down to four points and Newman building it back up to eight points when
Haley Albers would knock down a three point basket making the score 39-31 with 7:56 remaining in the quarter. From this point on, the Griffons would take control. Missouri Western would outscore Newman 24-8 to finish out the quarter taking an eleven point lead into the final quarter, 55-44.
The Jets would be unable to mount a comeback in the final quarter as the Griffons would be able to build upon their lead on their way to a 71-54 victory.
The Jets would be led by
Madison Birnbaum who would score a career high 17 points while also leading the team in rebounds with 8 in the contest. The Griffons would be led by Mychaell Gray scoring 14 points in the game. Newman would shoot 21 of 52 from the floor for 40 percent and 9 of 25 for 36 percent from three point range while also shooting 100 percent from the charity stripe. Missouri Western would shoot 26 of 63 from the floor for 41 percent and 8 of 24 from behind the three point arc for 33 percent.
The Jets will be back in action on Thursday, February 18
th as they host Northeastern State in their first game of a two game homestand with tip-off set for 5:30 pm inside Fugate Gymnasium.