Game 24:
Newman (2-21, 0-17 MIAA) vs. Central Oklahoma (9-8, 13-10 MIAA)
Saturday, February 12, 2022 | 1:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Fugate Gymnasium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  NU Athletics
 
'BYE' WEEK
Newman Women's Basketball hosts travel partner Central Oklahoma on Saturday.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Jets battled to the finish but came up on the short end of a 62-55 score against #22 Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, February 5 in Wichita.  The Lopers ran over the Jets early with a 13-3 run to begin the game.  UNK took a 20-7 lead through ten minutes only to see the Navy & Red erase the deficit with an 18-4 run that spanned the final eight and a half minutes of the first half.  The Lopers grabbed control in the third by outscoring the Jets 18-12 in the frame.  UNK grew the lead to 13 in the fourth when the Jets mounted their final comeback; a 12-2 run capped off by a Lauryn Dubbert three that brought Newman within three with under two minutes to go.  Nebraska-Kearney held steady by scoring six of the game's last eight points to fend off the upset attempt.  Britney Ho led Newman with 12 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Newman fell earlier in the week 79-30 to the #6 Fort Hays State Tigers.
 
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 is suiting up one senior 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
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.  Nilles is NU's leading returning scorer after averaging 6.2 ppg last season.  Nilles is also the Navy & Red's leading returning rebounder after grabbing 2.5 rpg a season ago.  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
UCO finds themselves in ninth place in the MIAA standings entering Week 13 of the MIAA schedule.  Central Oklahoma finished 14-9 last season after going 14-8 in MIAA play.  The Bronchos' season ended in an 82-80 defeat at Emporia State in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.  UCO has shown remarkable consistency in recent seasons and has notched eight-straight winning campaigns and postseason appearances.  Central is looking for its sixth NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2017.
 
THE SERIES
UCO leads the series 6-0 and is 2-0 against the Jets in Wichita.  The Bronchos have won all four games the teams have played as MIAA members.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
NU dug themselves out of an early hole but succumbed to a late Broncho run to fall 66-52 at Central Oklahoma January 3, 2022 in their first game back from Christmas break.  The Bronchos busted into the lead after a 20-10 first quarter, but NU matched UCO in the second to go into the half trailing 42-32.  NU trimmed the deficit to six by keeping the 'Chos in the stables in the third by outscoring the Bronze & Blue 12-8 in the frame.  The Jets trimmed the lead to six with just under seven minutes to go when the Bronchos found their gallop again and ended the game on an 11-3 run.
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.
 
The Johnsons are 0-1 against Central Oklahoma.
 
BUCKING WITH THE BRONCHOS
Guy Hardaker is in his 16^th season in Edmond and started the season with a career record of 281-158 with every season coming on the Broncho bench.  Through his first nine seasons in the MIAA, Hardaker has amassed a 90-85 record in league play.  During Central's time in the Lone Star Conference, Hardaker led the Bronchos to a top-two finish in the Lone Star's North Division in each of UCO's final five seasons in the league.  Hardaker has led the Bronze & Blue to all seven of the program's 20-win seasons and all five of their NCAA Tournament appearances including two trips to the Sweet 16.  Hardaker was previously a successful high school boys basketball coach at Edmond Memorial & Santa Fe High Schools.  Hardaker is 6-0 against Newman.
 
PUTTING IN THE TIME
When Carissa Beck logged 40 minutes in Newman's loss to Northeastern State, she was the first Jet to log at least that many minutes since 2016.  That season, Shaunice Robinson and Bria DeGrate each played at least 40 minutes in a 63-58 defeat in overtime to Rogers State February 20, 2016 in Claremore.  Robinson played a whopping 44 minutes in the game while DeGrate registered 40 minutes.  Beck hasn't slowed down since then, registering 40 minutes against Rogers State, Northwest Missouri, and at Washburn.  Over a four-game stretch from January 8 to January 18, Beck played all but four available minutes for the jets and has registered at least 30 minutes in 14-straight contests.  She has logged 34 minutes or more in 12 of those 14 games.  In Newman's games from January 22 to January 30, Beck played all but five available minutes for NU and has played all 40 minutes five times this season, all occurring after Christmas break.  Beck's most recent 40-minute performance was in the Jets loss at home to #22 Nebraska-Kearney.
 
MADE IN THE MIDWEST
The Jets didn't have to acquire any frequent-flyer miles to arrive on campus.  All 15 Jets hail from the Central Time Zone and represent just three different states.  Nine Jets stayed home in Kansas to play for NU, four made the trip north from Texas, and two came west from Missouri.
 
BRINGING THEIR 'A' GAME

• Junior shooting guard Carissa Beck is fifth in the league in minutes played and is ranked 25^th in the country in total minutes.  Beck is fifth in the MIAA in 3-pointers attempted, sixth in makes, and ninth in three-balls per game (1.70).
• The Navy & Red start the week fifth in the MIAA in Free-Throw Percentage at 74.7%.

 
NU STATS N' STREAKS

• Coming into this week, NU ranked 14^th in the league in scoring offense in MIAA games at 46.1 ppg.  Newman is eighth in scoring defense allowing 67.0 ppg in conference play.
• The Jets look to end their 17-game losing streak and a 19-game losing slide in conference play with a victory this week.  The 17-game losing streak is the longest in program history, passing last season's nine-game losing slide.
• Former Cowley County Community College Tiger Torri Vang scored a career-high eight points in the Jets' loss to #22 Nebraska-Kearney in Wichita.  Vang nailed a personal best two treys in the contest.  The former Goddard Lion played a career-high 31 minutes in the game making her fifth consecutive start.
• Beloit, Kan., freshman Lauryn Dubbert grabbed a career-high three steals against Fort Hays State in Wichita.
• Junior transfer guard Carissa Beck matched a career high of two steals against the #22 Lopers.
• Newman's 79-30 defeat against #6 Fort Hays State in Wichita is the Jets' largest defeat in the NCAA Division II era of the program.  NU's second-most lopsided loss also came at the hands of the Tigers earlier this season when the Jets fell at #5 Fort Hays State 90-44 in the Navy & Red's last game of the first semester.  The 30 NU points matched the program low for offense in a game with their 30 scored in a 47-30 loss at Washburn earlier this season.
• Freshman center Laura Bello snared a career-high 12 rebounds in NU's loss to the Lady Hornets in Emporia.
• Dubbert matched her career-high of two 3-pointers at Emporia State.
• Vang pilfered a career-high two steals at Washburn.
• Newman's 30 points in their loss at Washburn were the fewest ever scored by the Jets as an NCAA Division II program.  The previous low was 33 points in a 50-33 defeat against St. Edwards January 8, 2009 and in a 66-33 defeat at Lubbock Christian February 7, 2015.
• Dubbert dished out a career-high five assists against Northwest Missouri.
• Beck hit a career-best three 3-pointers for the fifth time in the Jets' defeat to Northwest Missouri.  Beck has played 40 minutes in two of Newman's last three games.
• Vang grabbed a career-best seven rebounds and matched a personal best with two assists against Northwest Missouri while logging a career high 27 minutes.  Vang topped 20 minutes in two of Newman's three games last week and made her first career start against the Bearcats.  Vang also matched a career high of two assists in the same game.
• Bello set a new career high mark with two blocks against Northwest Missouri.
• The Navy & Red's 31 turnovers against Missouri Western were the most since the Jets gave it away 31 times against Incarnate Word on January 30, 2010.  The NCAA-era record for turnovers in a game by the Jets is 36 set in a loss at Emporia State November 19, 2008.
• Newman freshman Alicia Mills scored a career-high five points in NU's loss to the Griffons.
• Dubbert scored a career-high 15 points and a career-best two 3-pointers in NU's loss to Rogers State.  Beck also tallied a new personal best of 13 points in the same game.
• Former Derby Panther Sydney Nilles set a new career high with eight rebounds at Central Missouri.
• Senior guard Makayla Hayes doubled her rebounding career high by controlling 12 boards in NU's loss at Lincoln.  Her previous best of six also came at Jason Gym in Jefferson City last season.  She also matched a career high of two steals for the second time in the same game.
• Former Bishop Carroll Golden Eagle Britney Ho matched a career high of two steals @ Lincoln.
• NU's 27 turnovers at Central Oklahoma were the most since the Jets turned it over 27 times against St. Mary's in Heartland Conference action February 23, 2017.  In the same game, Bronchos center Kelsey Johnson scored 30 points, the first opponent to score at least that many against the Jets since Kenzi Lamer torched NU for 32 points on 10 of 14 shooting from outside the arc in a 68-66 win for Northwestern Oklahoma State over the Jets in Wichita November 16, 2019.
• Nilles matched a career-high of three steals for the fourth time in NU's loss to Washburn in Wichita.
• Ho scored a career-high 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting in the Jets' home defeat to Emporia State.
• Nilles tallied a career-high eight assists in NU's loss to the Lady Hornets in Wichita.
• Beck nabbed a personal best six rebounds in the Jet's defeat to ESU at Fugate Gymnasium.
• Junior guard 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.
• Vang set a new career high with 4 points in NU's victory against MCC.
• 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.
• 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 erupted for a career-high 19 points in just 11 minutes in the Jets' loss to Cameron.
• Dubbert grabbed a personal-best eight rebounds against Mary.
• Dortland set a program record for most points in a 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 make their final road trip of the year next week when they visit Northeastern State and Rogers State.
 
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)
Week 6:  Nija Collier – Central Missouri
Week 7:  Tre'Zure Jobe – Emporia State
Week 8:  Kelsey Johnson (3) – Central Oklahoma (3)
Week 9:  Lacy Stokes – Missouri Southern
Week 10:  Maleeah Langstaff – Northeastern State
Week 11:  Lacy Stokes (2) – Missouri Southern (2)
Week 12:  Lacy Stokes (3) – Missouri Southern (3)