Wichita, KS - Newman lost their home opener to Rockhurst 78-70 on Monday at Fugate Gymnasium despite the Jets scoring nine straight points during a fourth quarter push. NU forced 29 turnovers and scored 23 points off them, but was out rebounded.
1st Quarter
Rockhurst scored the first four points before the Jets forced four turnovers in a stretch from 8:48 to 7:08, with
Jaeden McMillin and
Nevaeh Otis each making two free throws to tie it at 4-4. Rockhurst moved back in front, reaching 11-4, before
Alexis Martin answered with a steal and fast-break layup. The Hawks continued to build the margin with free throws, a layup and a 3-pointer, while NU got two Martin free throws and later a
Tayla Morris 3-pointer off Martin's assist to make it 22-13 with 59 seconds left in the 1st. Rockhurst led 23-13 after the first quarter.
2nd Quarter
After Rockhurst scored first in the second quarter at 7:28, the Jets answered with a stretch that included
Dani Williams' 3-pointer, a McMillin basket and a
Charlize Williams jumper off an assist from
Jolene Ramiro to make it 27-20 at 6:28. Carlson later hit a 3-pointer off a Williams assist to bring NU within 29-23 at 5:06, but Rockhurst used second chances and turnovers to build the margin back out, including three 3-pointers to put Rockhurst ahead 38-23, and the Jets' late scoring came on two Williams free throws and one McMillin free throw as the quarter closed with Rockhurst in front 38-26.
3rd Quarter
Rockhurst built on its advantage early in the third quarter with three layups and two free throws, moving ahead 46-26 at 6:25. NU answered with a 7-0 stretch as Martin hit two free throws and later scored off a
Lexi Ringgold assist, while the Jets forced four Rockhurst turnovers before
Dani Williams made a 3-pointer at 3:51 to make it 46-33. Rockhurst pushed back with multiple baskets and a 3-pointer at 1:01 that made it 57-38. Martin scored NU's final six points of the quarter, closing the quarter with a layup, a free throw and a 3-pointer as Rockhurst took a 58-44 lead into the fourth.
4th Quarter
After Otis and
Charlize Williams scored early in the fourth, a layup put Rockhurst ahead 63-50 before Carlson hit a 3-pointer at 7:24. The Jets worked back at the foul line with Ringgold,
Dani Williams and Martin, getting to 65-59, RU made a 3-pointer and a layup to move up 70-59. Carlson made another 3-pointer at 4:18, and after McMillin added a free throw, cutting the Rockhurst lead to 72-63. Carlson's third 3-pointer of the quarter at 1:53 and Otis' second-chance layup at 1:13 pulled NU within 72-68, and Martin's layup made it 74-70 with 52 seconds left, but Rockhurst went 4-for-4 at the line from there to close out a 78-70 win.
Player Highlights:
Alexis Martin had 22 points on the night.
Carli Carlson recorder 12 points.
Dani Williams tallied 11 points
Up next, the Jets travel to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to face Southern Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 P.M.
