Brian Petrotta - 1/22/2009

Wichita, Kan. -- Newman University’s Rainey Nickel was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Week for Jan. 12-18.  Nickel rained down a career-high 28 points in the Jets first ever Heartland Conference win on the road – a 74-61 victory at Oklahoma Panhandle State last Thursday.

Nickel, a sophomore from Augusta, Kan., turned in a career night in Goodwell, Okla., shooting 6-of-11 from three-point range and connecting on 10-of-17 shots overall.  It took Nickel just 17 minutes to gather those heady statistics.  She becomes the first Jets women’s basketball player to earn a weekly honor from the conference. 

The win at Oklahoma Panhandle State was the Jets first road victory in conference play since joining the Heartland Conference last year.  It was also Newman’s first true road win and first conference win of the 2008-09 season. 

Nickel leads the Jets with 8.9 points per game and 27 three-point field goals.  Last year as a freshman she was third on the team with 6.8 points per game and led the squad with 31 three-point baskets. 

At Augusta High School Nickel led her team to a second place finish in the 4A Kansas State Tournament her senior year.  She played in the KBCA All-Star Game and earned a Kansas McDonald’s All-American nomination. 

The Jets (4-13, 1-3 HC) face Lincoln University Saturday afternoon at Fugate Gymnasium with a 2 p.m. tip-off. 

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