WICHITA, Kan — It was another close battle between the Jennies and the Jets. Just like a year ago the Jennies escaped with a hard fought win, this time 58-52 over Newman. The win snaps a two-game losing streak and improves the Jennies to 8-2
The Jennies jumped out to a 7-2 following a Charley Bovaird corner three four minutes into the game. The offense soon went cold though as Newman scored seven straight to take a 9-7 lead.
Newman extended their lead to five, 14-9, but in the closing seconds Morgan VanHyfte intercepted a pass and dished to Gigi McAtee for an open layup and after 10 minutes UCM trailed by three, 14-11.
The team's traded the lead back and forth a couple of times in the second. A Bovaird three and a Nija Collier layup each game UCM a one-point lead.
Midway through the frame, VanHyfte picked off another pass and this time took it herself for an easy layup and a 20-17 lead.
Both teams struggled offensively in the closing minutes and UCM went into the half leading by two, 23-21.
Collier started the second half with a pair of layups and scored six in the third, bringing UCM to their largest lead, 31-23.
UCM started the third on an 8-2 run but the Jets answered with an 8-2 run of their own, bringing the lead back down to two, 33-31.
Helped out by a 7-0 run in the fourth, the Jets regained the lead 42-41. McAtee answered with a three ending the Jets run and putting UCM back on top, 44-42.
The Jets though kept coming back, tying the game at 44 and grabbed a 47-46 lead with 2:50 left to play.
After a defensive stand, Collier got fouled and easily sank both free throws, putting the Jennies again in the lead, 48-47. One possession later Brooke Littrell hit a jumper extending the lead to three, 50-47, with just over a minute remaining.
The Jennies had another defensive stand and the Jets were forced to foul. Olivia Nelson made two-of-two at the line. The Jets continued to foul but UCM made their free throws to keep them grounded, going on to win 58-52.
The Jennies shot 44% for the game going 22-for50 while the Jets were 17-for 40. Newman hit seven three-pointers to the Jennies three.
UCM was plus-nine on the boards grabbing 30 rebounds and 11 offensive. The Jennies scored 10 second chance points and had a 30-18 advantage in points in the paint.
The Jennies return home for the start of a four-game home stand. First up is Northeastern State Thursday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
