January 28, 2010
Wichita, Kan. – Liz Boyd hit a pair of free throws with 54 seconds left to play, rallying St. Mary’s University past Newman University, 40-38, in Heartland Conference women’s basketball action Thursday night at Fugate Gymnasium. In the men’s game, Newman hit 10 3-pointers to end the Rattlers four-game win streak.
The win kept the Rattlers eight-game win streak alive and lifted St. Mary’s to 15-5 overall, 7-1 in Heartland Conference play. Newman fell to 5-14 overall, 3-5 in Heartland Conference play. The Rattlers will go for their ninth straight win on Saturday against Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., at 2 p.m.
Despite shooting just 30.4 percent (14-46) from the field, the top defensive team in the Heartland Conference again prevailed. St. Mary’s held an opponent to under 50 points in a game for the sixth time in the last eight games, including limiting Newman to just 16 second half points. The Rattlers forced 30 turnovers by the Jets and limited NU to just 13 shots in the second half.
Kristin Williams (Jr., Kansas City) was the only Rattler to score in double figures with 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field. Boyd (Fr., San Antonio) only scored 3 points in the game, but her two clutch free throws gave the Rattlers the lead for good.
In the men’s game, Curtis Mitchell (Sr., Milwaukee) scored a career-high 28 points, but the Jets 10 3-points and 24 free throws were too much to overcome. The Rattlers never trailed by more than 10 points, but led only once in the game.
With the loss, the Rattlers fell to 10-9 overall and 5-4 in Heartland Conference play. Newman improved to 15-4, 8-1. St. Mary’s will return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Jefferson City, Mo., to face Lincoln University.
Men’s Box Score: Newman 80, St. Mary’s (Texas) 71
Women’s Box Score: St. Mary’s (Texas) 40, Newman 38