March 7, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

QUINCY, Ill. - Oh so close is oh so painful. The Lewis women's basketball team led for the majority of the second half over defending national champion and current No. 2 in the nation Northern Kentucky, but eventually fell 67-59 in overtime in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Semifinals on Saturday evening.

Early on the pace was quick but the baskets were few, with the Flyers holding a 12-11 advantage following the first ten minutes. At the break the Flyers trailed 20-18, with both teams shooting in the low 30 percent from the floor. Sophomore Jenny Turpel (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) accounted for half of Lewis' offensive production. Freshman Devon Carbaugh (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) was a monster on the boards, recording nine rebounds in the opening half alone.

Early in the second half it looked like Northern Kentucky might take control after jumping out to a 26-20 lead. With the momentum teetering towards the Norse the Flyers fought back. Back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore Kelly Monaco (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) and Kady Currin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) knotted the game up. Turpel added a basket to give Lewis a 28-26 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the contest. Two minutes later it was a 36-30 game in favor of Lewis thanks in part to a 3-point play by Turpel.

The Flyers opened a 45-36 lead with 9:30 left when senior Jenna Mooberry (Byron, Ill./Byron) nailed an open trey. The Norse used the next five minutes to chip at the Lewis lead and cut it to one at 48-47 with just under four minutes remaining.

Northern Kentucky had a chance to tie when NKU's Jessie Slack was fouled while connecting on a layup, but she missed the free throw and the scored stayed 52-51. On the other end Turpel earned a trip to the line and made one to give Lewis a 53-51 lead with 1:49 remaining. Lewis made it 56-51 when Monaco made what looked like an impossible 3-pointer with the shot clock running down at the 1:10 mark.

Currin made a clutch running jumper with 34 seconds left to put the Flyers back up 58-54. Following a Norse basket, Currin was fouled and went to the line. She connected on the first but missed the second. Slack grabbed the board and then made a 3-pointer to knot the game at 59 with 9.7 second left. Lewis had one last chance, but Currin's jumper missed at the buzzer to force overtime.

Slack scored three of the Norse's four baskets in the extra session to lift NKU to the comeback victory.

"It's very tough to walk out of here without the W when we know the opportunities we had," head coach Lisa Carlsen said.

Turpel finished with 21 points, six boards, and three blocks. Monaco added 12 points, with three of four 3-pointers coming in the second half. Monaco finishes the season with 71 3-pointers, tied for second most for a single season in school history. Currin finished with 11 points and four steals.

Carbaugh recoded her second career double-double with a career-high 15 rebounds and 10 points.

"They grew so much as a group as the year went on and they left everything they had on the court tonight," Carlsen said.

After cold shooting in the first half, both clubs shot over 50 percent in the second.

NKU improves to 27-2. Lewis finishes the season 16-13.