March 11, 2005
Box Score
ALLENDALE, Mich.--A stellar season came to an end for the Lewis University women's basketball team in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament as the Flyers fell to Quincy 63-56.
The Flyers (19-11) dictated tempo and controlled the game in the first half, building a 35-25 halftime lead. However, Quincy's experience, and more importantly the play of senior Jessica Stuckman, were too much for Lewis as the Hawks overcame the deficit early in the second half and were able to execute better in critical situations.
"We were focused and more relaxed in the first half," said Lewis head coach Lynn Plett. "We executed our game plan well and were able to play to our strengths."
The second half saw Quincy (23-8) erase its deficit in the first four and a half minutes. The Hawks opened the half with a 13-2 run and took the lead for good on a 3-pointer from Lindsay Anderson at 15:21.
The game was never more than six points the rest of the way until Stuckman made a pair of free throws with one second left in the game.
Stuckman, the three-time Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year, tormented the Flyers in their two previous meetings this season. She scored a game-high 27 points at Quincy and tallied a career-high 39 points in the Hawks' win in Romeoville. She continued that trend this time around, scoring a game-high 33 points, including the Hawks' final 13 points of the game.
"I guess Stuckman pretty much decided that she was going to beat Lewis this season," said Plett. "She hasn't scored like that many other times this season, but she hasn't had to either. It's a testament to our players that we're able to take away their supporting players."
Lewis built an early 13-7 lead, making six of its first nine shots in the opening five minutes of the game. Quincy answered and tied the game at 15-all, but the Flyers outscored the Hawks 20-10 for the last 12:28 of the first half.
All seven Lewis players who saw action in the first half scored at least one field goal. The balance was led by senior center Chelsea Francik and sophomore forward Darcee Schmidt who scored seven points each.
In the second half, the Flyers fell behind by six points before coming back to tie the game with 2:12 left. Sophomore
Mary Moskal netted a pair of free throws to tie the game at 54-all. Stuckman then buried a pair of free throws with 1:19 left and the Hawks led the rest of the way.
Schmidt led Lewis with 14 points, Moskal added 12 points and Glenn had 11 points.
"We overachieved in a sense last year when we finished 16-12 and I thought we overachieved maybe even more this year," said Plett. "But, I don't know if I can use that word anymore about this team.
"For us to accomplish what we did--second in the conference, qualify for the regional, win 19 games--after losing four players to season-ending injuries is reflective of our team. They would buckle down and rise above adversity all season and I'm really proud of what we've done."
