WICHITA, Kan. – In Head Coach Darrick Matthews second game as the Muleriders head coach, the Blue and Gold prevailed once again in the Central Region Tip-Off while in the Sunflower State. Southern Arkansas won its second-ever meeting against the Newman Jets with a 58-50 victory, making the Mulerider 7-1 in the Central Region Tip-Off Challenge since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign.
 
In an exciting matchup at the Central Region Tip-Off in Wichita, Kansas, Southern Arkansas University emerged victorious over Newman University with a 58-50 win. The game was a tightly contested battle, but the Muleriders' solid team effort ultimately secured the win.
 
Leading the charge for Southern Arkansas was senior Crystal Ortiz, who was instrumental in the victory, finishing with 14 points. Ortiz also contributed on the boards, grabbing 8 rebounds, a team-high. She was supported offensively by junior Elena Lijo-Rodriguez, who scored 12 points, adding another strong performance to her season.
 
The Muleriders also showcased depth on the glass, with three players pulling down 7 or more rebounds. Alongside Ortiz, junior guard Lijo-Rodriguez added 7 rebounds, while senior forward Tequaza Chambers chipped in with 7 rebounds as well. This rebounding dominance helped Southern Arkansas control the pace and limit second-chance opportunities for Newman, as the Muleriders out-rebounded the Jets 44-32.
 
While against the Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Southern Arkansas was on fire from beyond the arc, the Muleriders managed to knock down just one of 11 three-point attempts (9.1%).
 
Newman University fought hard but struggled with consistency throughout the game. Despite a strong effort, they could not overcome Southern Arkansas' balanced offense and superior rebounding. The Muleriders' defense also played a key role, keeping the Jets from finding a rhythm in the second half.
 
With the win, Southern Arkansas advances to 2-0 with another sweep in the Central Region Tip-Off, a solid performance to build on as the season progresses into next week with the Blue and Gold opening play inside the W.T. Watson Center on Saturday at 3:00 PM against Arlington Baptist following a Wednesday performance in Memphis, Tennessee versus Christian Brothers.