Game #22
Newman Jets (4-17, 4-17 MIAA) at Pittsburg State Gorillas (13-8, 13-8 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 27 • 1:30 P.M. Pittsburg, Kan. • John Lance Arena
Series Record: PSU leads series 3-0 Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2020 PSU 61 NU 49 in Wichita, Kan.
Internet Audio: Newmanjets.com/listen Internet Video: themiaanetwork.com/newman
LAST TIME OUT
 
With the score tied at 4-4, a little over three minutes into the contest, the Blue Tigers would get hot going on a 15-6 run to close out the opening quarter. Lincoln would be able to build their lead up to as much as 11 points on multiple occasions on their way to taking a 19-10 lead into the second quarter.  In the second quarter, the Jets would slowly start to chip away at the Blue Tiger lead. In the last half of the quarter, Newman would outscore Lincoln 13-2 to take the lead heading into the intermission, 33-30.  Neither team would lead by more than five points for the rest of the contest as both teams would respond immediately when the other would put together a run. We would enter the fourth quarter with the Blue Tigers up 48-45.  Lincoln would build up a lead of five points with three minutes left in the final period. Sydney Nilles would cut the lead down to three points and the Blue Tigers would make one of two free throws to make the lead four points with 1:43 left. Brooke Haney would make a layup to cut the lead back down to two and the Blue Tigers would again go one of two from the charity stripe to make it a three point ball game. After taking a timeout, the Jets would miss a three point basket, but Faith Mason-Vestal would pull in the offensive rebound and Madison Birnbaum would knock down a three point basket with 16 second left to tie the game up at 68-68. Lincoln would draw up a play and would knock down a floater in the lane to take the 60-58 lead with two seconds left. The Jets would draw up a good play, but couldn't get the layup to drop as the Blue Tigers would hold on 60-58.

THE COACHES
Darin Spence begins his ninth season as the Jets head coach, leading the Jets to a 4-17, 4-17 in the MIAA record so far in the 2020-21 season. Spence has compiled a 594 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.

Amanda Davied begins her third season as Women's Basketball coach for Pittsburg State for the 2020-21 season.  During her time at Pittsburg State, she has guided them to a berth in the 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Tournament with a 21-9 record, becoming the first Pitt State head coach to win 20 games in her first season at the helm.  She also has a career record of 38-20 as head coach including a 17-11 record last season.

ABOUT THE JETS
Newman is 4-17 on the season, 4-17 in the MIAA. Newman is led in scoring by Senior Guard Brooke Haney at 10.5 points per game.  Madison Birnbaum leads the Jets in rebounding at 5.4 rebounds per game. 

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 13-8 on the season, 13-8 in the MIAA. The Gorillas are led in scoring by Junior Guard Tristan Gegg at 16.5 points per game.  Julia Johnson leads the Gorillas in rebounding at 6.4 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fourth meeting between these two schools with Pittsburg State leading the series over Newman 3-0.

LAST TIME VS PITTSBURG STATE
For the second game in a row, the Jets would get the scoring started with a jumper by Faith Mason-Vestal.  With 6:27 left in the first quarter and the score tied 6-6, Pittsburg State (1-1,1-1) would go on a 5-0 run to make the score 11-6.  The Jets would counter with a 5-0 run of their own capped by and Abbey George and one with 3:15 left in the 1^st quarter. The Gorillas would end the quarter on a 5-0 run to lead the Jets 18-13.  The Gorillas would start the second quarter on a 9-0 run to give them a 14 point lead. The Jets would try to stop the bleeding with two free throws from Amoni White that made the score 27-15 with 4:55 left in the half.  The Gorillas weren't quite done yet as they would go on a 6-2 run to gain their biggest lead of the game at 16 points, 33-17 with 2:33 left in the half.  The Jets were able to get the deficit to 12 points at the end of the half on a basket by Madison Birnbaum as the clock expired to make the score 35-23 heading into the break.  Neither team was able to get much of anything going to start the second half. Newman was able close out the quarter on a 5-0 run cutting into the Pittsburg State lead, 47-38.  In the fourth quarter, the Gorillas start on a 9-2 run to gain a 16 point lead 56-40 with 3:42 left in the quarter.  With 1:39 left and the score 58-42, the Jets would go on a 7-0 run to get within 9, 58-49 with 42 seconds left.  The Gorillas would tack on a three point basket with 17 seconds left and the Gorillas would hang on to beat the Jets 61-49.

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.