Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Senior Mandie Morelock (Poplar Grove, Ill./North Boone) made her senior day one to remember, scoring a career-high 20 points in the Flyers' 75-69 victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Neil Carey Arena.

The opening half was tight, featuring six ties and seven lead changes. Lewis took a 30-27 advantage into the break and quickly extended it to eight thanks to five straight points by sophomore Jenny Turpel (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) to start the second. The Flyers grabbed their largest lead of the game at 14:20 when junior Amy Smith (Southgate, Mich./Anderson) hit a jumper off a feed from Turpel.

However the Panthers would chip at the lead, advancing within one at 53-52 with 6:13 remaining on a layup by Katie Behrens. Morelock responded by hitting one of her three 3-pointers to give Lewis a four-point advantage. But a 7-0 Panthers' run, capped by a Behrens trey gave Kentucky Wesleyan their first lead since the first half. Baskets by Morelock and freshman Devon Carbaugh (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) gave Lewis the lead back at 60-59 with 2:37 remaining.

Lewis led 63-61 when the Panthers tied it with five seconds left on a Behrens jumper. Sophomore Kady Currin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) had a desperation jumper at the buzzer go off the mark and push the game to overtime.

The Flyers never trailed in the extra session. Currin nailed a trey just under two minutes into overtime and Carbaugh followed with a basket to give Lewis a 68-63 advantage. The Flyers held on from there.

In addition to her 20 points, Morelock added six boards, three steals and two assists in her first career start.

"Mandie made the most of the opportunity," head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "I couldn't be happier for her."

Turpel had a game-high 22 points with eight boards and four assists. Carbaugh finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Currin added 12 points, connecting on 6-of-8 free throws.

The Flyers out rebounded a fourth straight opponent, holding a 38-31 advantage on the boards. Five Flyers had five or more rebounds.

The victory is Carlsen's first overtime victory as head coach of the Flyers. Lewis has won six straight, and eight of the last nine. Indianapolis' loss on Saturday evening means the Flyers can fall no further than the three spot in the GLVC East.

Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 9-17 (4-12 GLVC). Lewis improves to 15-10 (11-5 GLVC). The Flyers finish the season with road GLVC contests at UW-Parkside on Thursday and Northern Kentucky on Saturday.