Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University women's basketball program has done a lot of learning and growing in the past two seasons. The Flyers made the best turnaround in Division II in one season going from eight wins in 2011-12 to collecting 24 wins last year, including the Great Lakes Valley Conference Champions and NCAA Tournament berth.
 
The squad's goals have been the same; take care of business at home, do well against regional teams and win a conference Championship.
 
The next step is a test, but the Flyers are ready to make an impact on the national stage in the NCAA Tournament.
 
"I think Lewis is the type of place that can realistically talk like that," Lewis head women's basketball coach Lisa Carlsen said. "A lot of things have to go right; you have to stay healthy and have some things go your way, but we talk about advancing in the tournament.
 
"When you see teams in our region be able to have the success at a national level that they've had, there is no reason for us to not have those same aspirations."
 
Lewis opens the 2013-14 season with a large target on their backs. The Flyers were selected as the preseason favorite to repeat as the GLVC East Division Champions. They also carry a No. 18 national ranking into their regional contests against Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Nov. 9) and Northwood on Sunday (Nov. 10) at Neil Carey Arena.
 
The Flyers might have a few new faces in the starting five. Carlsen is confident that the team's willingness to work hard and play unselfish basketball will help the team go far. No matter what personnel takes the court.
 
"The team's mentality is what garnered much of their success last year," Carlsen said. "Their relentlessness running up and down the floor and sharing the ball hasn't changed.
 
"We are going to rely on that to continue to be what we are all about." 
 
Headlining the returners is junior forward Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) who picked up Preseason Honorable Mention accolades from Women's Division II Bulletin. Reinhart, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 GLVC Tournament, led the Flyers to the GLVC Championship averaging 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds-per-game. The forward was also named to the 2013 All-GLVC First Team and NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team. 
 
Also returning to the court this season are junior guards Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) and Kristin Itschner (Metamora, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame) as well as redshirt sophomore guard Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic).
 
"I think our trio of guards will be one of the best in the league," Carlsen said. "Nikki and Kristin both gained a lot of great experience in a lot of minutes for us last season and continue to use that to improve this year."
 
Nellen averaged 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists-per-game while Itschner chipped in 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists-per-game.
 
There doesn't seem to be any questions on what shape Johnson will be in after taking a medical redshirt last season due to a knee injury. In 2011-12, Johnson guided a young team from the point guard position, averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists-per-game.
 
"Jamie being back is huge for us and she looks great," Carlsen said. "She's picked up where she left off her freshman year and has really worked on her game."
 
Carlsen also has sophomore Alyssa Dengler (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) and freshman Alyssa Siwek (Palos Heights, Ill./Mother McAuley), both of which can provide a shot of energy off the bench. Dengler's strong defensive play will help the Flyers' rotation if the squad is forced to play a smaller line-up from time to time.
 
"We have three, maybe even four players that can play the point or play the off-guard position," Carlsen said. "With everyone comfortable playing both, I think it helps our versatility, especially in our transition game."
 
Sophomore forward Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), who chipped in 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds-per-game last season, will be a force in the paint for the Flyers again this year.
 
"Mariyah is going to be a go-to player for us," Carlsen said. "She learned a lot about the league and what it takes to compete at this level.
 
"She's in much better shape and she's refined her skill set even more."
 
Redshirt senior forward Lauren Mead (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) is set to log major minutes down low for Lewis. Returning to the line-up, Mead brings a different dynamic to the squad, using her 6-foot-2 frame and length to block shots and pull down rebounds to get second-chance buckets or get the offense out and running.
 
The Flyers also have sophomore Sophie Lichte (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) and redshirt freshmen Ali Walker (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City) and Alex Poole (Milwaukee, Wis./Menomonee Falls) set to make an impact off the bench.
 
"We haven't shied away from taking on really good competition out of the gate," Carlsen said. "We will be tested with five regional contests before a grueling conference schedule and that will be very important come tournament time."