LIBERTY, Mo. - The Jets played in their final road non-conference game on Tuesday night, heading across the broader in Missouri to take on the William Jewell Cardinals.
The Jets were 4-1 all time against the Cardinals going into tonight's game, with this being the first meeting between the two schools since Newman joined the MIAA.
With both teams reeling off two straight losses to open their seasons, the game got off to a fast start.
Valeriya Lioukina scored a three to give the Jets their first lead of the night just a minute into the game. The two sides went move for move with each other as the quarter came to a close, with a
Carli Carlson jumper leveling the game at 16. To the shock of everyone, the Cardinals hit a half court three to totally change the momentum of the game.
An 11-4 run to open the quarter kept the Cardinals in front, as Newman struggled to keep up the pace. The Jets had several streaks of not scoring for a good period of time through the quarter, but were able to keep the game within touching distance at the half. The Cardinals took a 12 point lead to the half, but it would be one that they would continue to grow in the second half.
The Jets would not score their next field goal until almost the halfway point of the 3rd, and by that point the lead had been grown to almost 15 for the Cardinals.
A 17 point lead for William Jewell made the Jets want to make big plays as they consistently shot from three to try and bring the lead down. The strategy would not work as the Cardinals scored off the fast break several times after some missed threes. William Jewell went on to win 84-60.
Lioukina had a career day in points, scoring 16. It was the most points she had in a game since facing Rogers State last season, where she scored 15.
Amaya Perez had the most rebounds for a Jet in a game since 2021, getting 14 boards in the loss. 10 of her rebounds were on the defensive side of the ball.
The Jets will return home, as they will host the first ever Newman Classic beginning on Friday. They will take on East Central in the first round of the tournament.
