Dec. 3, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Junior Kady Currin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) scored a team-high 17 points as Lewis defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis 80-65 in the first Great Lakes Valley Conference game of the season, aired live on Lakeshore Television.

There were three lead changes in the first two minutes of the game, but after a pair of free throws by junior Jenny Turpel (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg), the Flyers never looked back, leading the rest of the game by at least three points.

In the first half, Lewis came out shooting strong, going 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from the field and 40.0 percent (2-of-5) from beyond the arc. Junior Kelly Monaco (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) connected on both of her 3-point attempts in the half and senior Kelly Dianis (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) was perfect from the field going 3-of-3 as well as 3-of-3 from the free throw line in the opening frame. Lewis went into halftime with a 40-28 advantage.

Lewis led the entire second half thanks to 22 points off turnovers compared to UMSL's four. The Tritons tried to spark a comeback late in the second, as UMSL's Hailee Deckard scored 12 points in a six minute span, shrinking the lead to three with five minutes to go.

The Lewis defense stepped up by not allowing any points in the final three minutes of the game and by going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line during that span. The Flyers shot a stellar 94.1 percent (32-of-34) from the charity stripe for the game to UMSL's 76.7 percent (23-of-30). Turpel (9-of-9), Currin (8-of-8), Dianis (6-of-6), Monaco (3-of-3) and freshman Labrenthia Murdock (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) (2-of-2), were all perfect from the line.

"We got to the line and made them," head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "After not starting the year how we wanted to it's nice to open conference play with a victory."

Turpel had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Monaco also totaled 14 points. Dianis finished with 12 points.

Deckard led the Tritons with a game high 23 points. Lewis limited the Tritons to just 19.0 percent (4-of-21) from the 3-point line.

The Flyers improve to 2-3 (1-0 GLVC) as UMSL drops to 1-5 (0-1 GLVC). Lewis is back at it Saturday as they host conference opponent Missouri-Maryville for a 1 p.m. tip-off at Neil Carey Arena.