Nov. 10, 2009

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois needed a second-half surge to pull away and top the Lewis Flyers 85-66 in an exhibition contest on Tuesday evening.

Three layups by junior Jenny Turpel (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) to start the game helped Lewis to an early 6-5 lead. Junior Kelly Monaco (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) extended Lewis' lead to 13-9 with a 3-pointer. It was tied at 20 with eight minutes left in the first following a Monaco layup. The Huskies led by six when senior Kelly Dianis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2.6 seconds left in the half. Dianis knocked in all three, but a Northern Illinois basket at the buzzer made it a 37-32 score at the break.

The Flyers trailed by just two at 44-42 seven minutes into the second half when sophomore Sierra West (Hartford, Wis./Slinger) made a layup. However the Huskies followed with an 18-4 run over the next five minutes to pull away and take control of the game.

Turpel finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Labrenthia Murdock (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) added 14 points off the bench on 4-of-9 shooting. Monaco finished with 12 points.

"Jenny gave us 20-12 against a quality opponent," head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "I liked some things I saw tonight however we need to be more consistent."

The Huskies held a dominating 22-9 edge on the offensive glass.

Marke Freeman led Northern Illinois with 21 points.

The game was the third and final exhibition contest Lewis played against Division I opponents this preseason. Lewis opens the regular season on Monday at 7 p.m. against Florida Southern at Neil Carey Arena.