Newman Women Host Southwestern Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Southwestern (8-4) at Newman (7-4)
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 || 5:30 p.m. ||
Fugate Gymnasium || Wichita, Kan.

Newman Notes

WICHITA- The Newman women's basketball team will look to enter its holiday break on a high note evening when it hosts the NAIA Southwestern Moundbuilders Friday evening. Tip-time is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside Newman's Fugate Gymnasium.

About the Jets...
Newman is off to a 7-4 start this season, including the squad's first-ever win over in-state rival Fort Hays, and a win over regional Catholic rival Rockhurst in the championship game of the Catholic Collegiate Invitational. Newman's only losses came in an 83-71 loss to Pittsburg State on Nov. 16 in Pittsburg, and in a 75-64 decision to No. 17 Wayne State on Nov. 26 in Wichita.

The Jets are led by Philicia Kelly, a 5-9 junior transfer from Labette Community College who is averaging 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game after a 12-point, five-rebound outing in Newman's 83-55 win over Ottawa Tuesday in Wichita. Rhea Codio, a transfer guard from the University of Kansas, scores 13.1 points and dishes out 4.2 assists per game for the Jets as the team's point guard, while Tasha Cannon can be counted on for 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the paint.

As a team, the Jets have held their opponents to a .390 collective field goal percentage, and out-rebound opposing teams by a 39.5-34.1 margin.

Scouting Southwestern...
The Moundbuilders bring an 8-4 record into Friday's contest, and have won each of their last two games after a 69-68 win over Bethel College Saturday in Winfield. Southwestern was ranked No. 22 in the Dec. 13 NAIA Div. II coaches' poll. After winning four-straight games to start the 2010-11 season, Southwestern lost four of its next six games, including three losses to nationally-ranked NAIA opponents, before rebounding with wins over Ottawa (68-62) and Bethel (69-68) last week. The Builders are no stranger to NCAA Div. II competition this season. Southwestern has played exhibition games at nationally-ranked Washburn (L, 91-60) and Northwest Missouri State (L, 102-64).

Brett Bates has emerged as Southwestern's leading scorer this season. The 5-6 junior guard is averaging 13.7 points per game through 12 games in the 2010-11 season. Tylar Hartfield, a 5-11 senior forward, is averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game in her final season with the Moundbuilders.

Friday's game will count as an exhibition for Southwestern.
 
The Series....
This will be the 37th meeting between the Jets and the Moundbuilders in a series that dates back to 1975. Southwestern holds a 21-16 lead in the all-time series, and picked up a 72-61 win over Newman in their last meeting on Nov. 20, 2004 inside Newman's Fugate Gymnasium.