Jan. 8, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University women's basketball team shot 56.0 percent in the second half to rally and defeat Missouri S&T 62-58 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game on Thursday evening.

The Lady Miners led by as many as eight in the opening period but a layup by sophomore Kady Currin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) with four seconds left in the half cut it to three. Despite shooting only 35.5 percent from the field in the opening half the Flyers stayed in it by forcing eight Missouri S&T turnovers.

The first free throw of the game came early in the second half when sophomore Kelly Monaco (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) made a traditional 3-point play after being fouled. Her basket was part of a 17-6 Flyers' run to start the second half. Lewis led by six with 6:46 left when the Lady Miners scored the next nine points to take a three point lead with 4:30 left.

But tonight would be the Flyers' night. Freshman Devon Carbaugh (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) made a layup after a Lewis timeout to cut the lead to one. Two free throws by the Lady Miners' Lauren Dubbert put the lead at three again. But Currin took the ball hard to the basket and converted on a layup to cut the lead to 55-54. Three offensive fouls, two by the Lady Miners, followed and kept the score knotted till Carbaugh connected on one of two free throws to tie it up with 1:46 left. On the other end Currin forced a steal and was fouled as S&T dove after the ball. She connected on two free throws to give the Flyers a 57-55 lead with 1:22 remaining.

On the other end solid Lewis defense forced a deep fall away jumper by Tamara McCaskill that was no good. Missouri S&T elected not to foul the Flyers with 53 seconds left after Carbaugh grabbed the rebound. It was a decision they would regret. Currin found Carbaugh wide open at the top of the arc and she drained a trey to give the Flyers a 60-55 lead with 21 seconds left. The Flyers would hold on the rest of the way thanks to two clutch free throws by senior Jenna Mooberry (Byron, Ill./Byron).

"I liked our poise down the stretch," head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "Devon's big shot combined with Jenna's free throws put the game away."

Sophomore Jenny Turpel (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) finished with 17 points. Monaco added 14, Carbaugh had 11 and Currin registered 10 points. Turpel, Currin and Monaco all had four steals.

McCaskill scored 18 points for the Lady Miners, but the Flyers forced her to turn the ball over six times.

The Flyers are 7-7 (3-2 GLVC). Missouri S&T falls to 7-5 (1-3 GLVC). Lewis hosts Quincy on Saturday at 1 p.m.