Jan. 6, 2005

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.-- - Staunch and spirited defense carried the Lewis University women's basketball team past Great Lakes Valley Conference-leading Wisconsin-Parkside 56-52 Thursday night.

The Flyers (7-6, 4-3 GLVC) limited the nation's second-best shooting team to just 31.4 percent (16 of 51) shooting and forced 23 Ranger turnovers. Wisconsin-Parkside (11-6, 5-2 GLVC) entered the game shooting 48.8 percent as a team and was averaging 15.5 turnovers per game.

"This was the best defensive effort we've had all season," said Lewis head coach Lynn Plett. "We picked up our intensity and didn't give them many good looks."

In addition, Lewis shut down Wisconsin-Parkside's senior forward Sammy Kromm. Kromm, who came into the game leading the nation with a 70.1 percent field goal percentage, is a two-time All-GLVC first-team honoree as well. Kromm finished with 10 points, but was 2 of 8 from the field and had six turnovers.

"Chelsea Francik and Darcee Schmidt held the top field goal shooter in the country to 25 percent," said Plett. "They did what we asked of them to try and take away what Kromm does so well."

"We also held their leading scorer (Carrie Weir) who was averaging 18 points per game and shooting 53 percent to just three points and 1 of 5," said Plett.

The teams played to a 26-26 stalemate at halftime with neither team leading by more than five points. Lewis shot 28.1 percent in the period, while Wisconsin-Parkside was 33.3 percent from the field.

The Flyers opened the second half with a 3-pointer from sophomore forward Darcee Schmidt that quickly gave the team a 29-26 lead. Schmidt's three gave Lewis the lead for good and helped propel the team to a 9-1 burst in the first four minutes of the second half, extending Lewis' lead to 35-27.

Wisconsin-Parkside cut the lead the three three times, but could draw no closer. After the Rangers pulled to 39-36 with 10:50 to play, Lewis quickly rebuilt the lead to nine following a pair of Schmidt lay ups and another from Mary Moskal.

The Flyers led by as many as 12 points when Erin Cox hit a 3-pointer with 3:27 to play. However, UWP scored nine unanswered points in the ensuing two minutes and closed to 54-51 with just under a minute and a half remaining.

Two Lewis and one UWP free throws were all that cracked the scoreboard in the final 1:24.

Four Flyers finished in double digits, including Schmidt and Shante Glenn who shared team-high honors with 14 points apiece. Schmidt was 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and made two three pointers, while Glenn had six rebounds and a game-high four steals.

Cox chipped in with 12 points and Moskal posted 11 points and seven rebounds. Brittney Diener tallied a game-high six assists and added a pair of steals.

Jen Braier paced the Rangers with a double-double; she had a team-high 12 points and 15 rebounds.