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Romeoville, Ill. – The Lewis University women's basketball forced their up-tempo offense on the William Jewell Cardinals on Thursday (Jan. 10) to capture a 65-56 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Neil Carey Arena.
 
The Flyers, off to their best start since the 1997-98 season where the squad started out 13-2, improve to 9-2 on the season and 2-1 in GLVC action. The Cardinals fall to 7-4 on the year and 1-2 in conference play.
 
“We came out in the first half and did really well in our offensive transition,” Lewis head women's basketball coach Lisa Carlsen said. “We need to do that consistently because I think that it is our best offense.”
 
Lewis guards kept the pace up on William Jewell in the first half to quickly pushing their lead to 12 points at 20-8, capped off by a three-pointer by Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) at the 13:59 mark.
 
Grayer went on to score 13 points in the contest, hitting three-of-five three-pointers, and pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Sophomore Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) poured in 11 of her 15 points in the first half, hitting 5-of-6 from the field and her only free throw of the game. Reinhart grabbed all three of her rebounds in the second half.
 
The Flyers were able to force the Cardinals to make 11 turnovers and out-scored their bench 20-14 to take a 42-29 lead into half. 
 
“Unfortunately, in the second half there were some lull's that we didn't do what we were supposed to do on the glass and gave up some offensive rebounds,” Carlsen said. “When we don't rebound that obviously slows us down in transition.”
 
Even with the few lulls that happened in the second half, the Flyers were able to increase their lead to 22 on a three-point play by senior Sam Rinehart (Marion, Iowa/Marion) at the 6:29 mark at 63-41. Rinehart finished the game with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists. 
 
William Jewell's Chelsea Meeks made a three-pointer with 16 seconds left in the game to cut Lewis' lead below double-digits for the first time since the Cardinals were able to capitalize on a Rinehart turnover at 17:30 with a Cassy Nicolay jump shot.
 
The Flyers were held off the charity stripe all game, only reaching and making a season-low 7-of-9 free throws. The Cardinals went 8-for-11 at the free throw line as both teams were whistled for 16 combined fouls. 
 
Forward Katlyn Wood lead the Cardinals with 13 points, nine rebounds, and five blocked shots while Rosa Hoff added 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Lewis is back in conference action on Saturday (Jan. 12), when the Rockhurst Hawks come into Neil Carey Arena for a 1 PM match-up.