Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Bethesda (CA) women’s basketball program is not off to the hottest of starts in the 2025 season. The Lion Angels have lost back-to-back matchups by an average of 79.5 points.
A scheduling debate has since been ignited. Should these types of matchups be allowed?
Founded in 1976, Bethesda is a “Christ-centered community of higher education preparing Korean/English speaking men and women with professional competence, academic excellence, and spiritual integrity to be servant leaders in the Church, community, and global society.”
Located in the Anaheim area, it boasts a total enrollment of less than 400 students. It also has eight sports teams, one of which is now making headlines.
Bethesda women’s basketball is struggling.
Bethesda competes at the NAIA level. Each of their first three games will come against D1 foes. The first two have gone as badly as possible.
The Lion Angels have started the year 0-2. Both of those losses came by at least 69 points.
In the season opener, they were beaten soundly by San Diego. The team shot 17% from the field in a 92-23 loss. They were forced to play with four players on the floor for the entire second half.
Craziest box score from last night…
University of San Diego WBB beat NCCAA Bethesda 92-23.
Bethesda lost the first quarter 19-1 and played the entire second half with only 4 players.
BU also got out rebounded 59-15.
Maybe not the best scheduling by the Toreros. pic.twitter.com/VFyZhlkXjB
— Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing) November 4, 2025
Game 2 was much of the same. The Lion Angels didn’t score until the third quarter. They were down 72-0 before getting on the scoreboard against CSU Northridge.
They’d eventually lose, 103-13.
NCCAA Bethesda University WBB finally gets on the board vs. CSUN after a 72-0 start. Bethesda, coached by Julian Newman’s father, only has five players with the rest of the team battling the flu. They lost 92-23 to San Diego last night, playing half that game with four players. pic.twitter.com/ByiyYAaGv3
— Sports TV News & Updates (@TVSportsUpdates) November 5, 2025
Bethesda has been hit with the flu. Half the team has been affected. It’s provided a very limited lineup for head coach Jamie Newman.
Those setbacks have certainly amplified the negative outcomes, but it’s worth noting the program’s past performance when debating whether or not the program should be scheduling D1 competition.
Last year, the Lion Angels played seven D1 foes. They lost all by at least 30 points, with five seeing 55+ point differentials.
Simply put, they are not on the same level. It begs the question – Should these games be allowed?
It was a popular topic of discussion on social media. Most don’t believe the games provide much benefit for either side.
“This is a real halftime score,” one viewer said while watching Bethesda’s most recent outing. “Both teams should be ashamed for scheduling this game.”
Some blame Bethesda’s new head coach for putting his players in a bad spot.
Who is Jamie Newman?
Newman was hired in the offseason. He’d previously been at Downey Christian School where he coached both his son, Julian, and daughter, Jaden. Both were considered basketball phenoms as middle schoolers.
Julian grew to online fame after joining the varsity team as a fifth grader. Jaden took a similar basketball path. A YouTube reality series called “Hello Newmans” thrust them further into the spotlight.
Jamie Newman was criticized for the promotion of his children. He’s now under further scrutiny for his handling of the Bethesda women’s basketball program.
Newman could not predict that sickness would run through the locker room before the season opener. He could, however, shield his team from on-court embarrassment.
Maybe more egregious than the opponent choice is the fact that the games were scheduled on back-to-back nights.
It obviously went poorly for the Lion Angels. They’ll have a few days to recover before traveling to San Jose State.