THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA, Kan. – Midwestern State shot 22 percent in the third quarter allowing Newman to take the lead for good in a 65-60 loss on Saturday at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan. The Mustangs suffered their second-straight setback with both losses coming by a combined six points.
 
Junior Courtney Kerr and sophomore Kityana Diaz each scored a career-high 12 points to pace the Mustangs offensively. Sophomore Hannah Reynolds followed up her 13 point, nine rebound output in the season opener with a 10 point, seven board effort while adding a pair of blocks.
 
Junior Mica Schneider orchestrated an offense that shot 39.6 percent from the floor, dishing out five of MSU Texas' 12 assists, a new career best.
 
After building a 13-7 lead midway through the first quarter, Newman mounted a 10-0 run to close out the quarter.
 
The Mustangs ran their way back into the game in the second period, outscoring the Jets 8-2 on the fastbreak, 11-0 on turnovers and 12-4 in the paint. Senior Chelcie Kizart buried a 3-pointer, her lone score of the contest, with 33 seconds to play before the intermission to give the Mustangs a 34-30 lead at the break.
 
Both teams combined to miss their first 13 shots in the second half. Newman's Bria DeGrate provided the only score in the first 3:44 on a free throw before Dede Johnson hit a layup with 5:48 to play to snap the dry spell.
 
MSU Texas eventually connected on a shot from the floor as Kerr hit a layup at the 5:01 mark and a jumper at the 3:47 point to regain the lead for the Maroon and Gold after the Jets tied up the contest.
 
Unfortunately, that would be the last time the Mustangs held the advantage. MSU Texas went nearly 10 minutes without a made shot from the floor allowing Newman to mount a 16-3 run and essentially put the game out of reach.
 
Trailing by as many as 13 with 3:40 to play, the Maroon and Gold closed the gap to three, down 63-60 with seven seconds to go. Johnson hit both free throws with five seconds remaining to stretch the lead to five and finalize the scoring line.
 
DeGrate powered the Jets with a double-double, turning in 19 points and 11 boards to go along with six assists, one block and three steals in 33 minutes.
 
GAME NOTES
- Midwestern State fell to 0-2 to start the 2018-19 season after a 65-60 loss to Newman
- The Mustangs remained winless against the Jets, trailing 4-0 in the series
- MSU Texas lost the rebounding battle, 49-33, including 22-6 on the offensive end
- Junior Courtney Kerr and sophomore Kityana Diaz each scored a career-high 12 points in the loss
- Junior Mica Schneider handed out a career-best five assists
 
UP NEXT
MSU Texas makes its home debut in the Ashbrook Classic Presented by Comfort Inn on Friday, Nov. 16, against Texas Wesleyan. Tipoff at D.L. Ligon Coliseum is set for 5:30 p.m.