Box Score  / Box Score (pdf)

Owensboro, Ky. – Kentucky Wesleyan's defense proved frustrating as the host Panthers earned the 74-61 win over the No. 24 Lewis University women's basketball team on Saturday (Feb. 9) at the Sportscenter in a battle for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division. 
 
Lewis falls to 16-5 on the year and 9-4 in GLVC action while Kentucky Wesleyan improves to 14-6 for the season and 10-3 in league play.
 
“Kentucky Wesleyan kept us off balance all day and we didn't get good shots,” Lewis head women's basketball coach Lisa Carlsen said. “We didn't play Lewis basketball.”
 
Senior forward Sam Rinehart (Marion, Iowa/Marion) (Marion, Iowa/Marion) led all scorers with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists while sophomore forward Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) added 10 points and two assists. Senior guard Labrenthia Murdock (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) scored seven points and tallied six rebounds, six assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
 
After battling to get within seven points at halftime, 37-30, the Flyers' shooting went cold in the second half. Kentucky Wesleyan held Lewis to 13-of-32 (.406) shooting in the half and kept the Flyers at 3-of-7 (.428) from the free throw line. The Panthers shot 11-of-22 (.500) from the field and hit all 13 free throws taken in the half. 
 
Kentucky Wesleyan's lead reached its highest at 20 points with 5:48 left in the second half, as Kourtney Rhoads hit both of her free throws. Lewis went on a 13-4 to get within 11 points with a minute left, led by sophomore guard Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI)'s (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) four points. The final horn sounded before the Flyers could do more damage on their run.
 
Lewis' up-tempo offense was held to just two fast-break points as Kentucky Wesleyan poured in 14, while their bench out-scored the Flyers' 33-17.
 
Karly Rhoads led five Panthers in double-figures with 13 points while Kourtney Rhoads chipped in 11 points. T'Essence Phelps, Jordanne Gambill, and Kailyn Mitchell each added 10 points in the contest.
 
“Every game is going to be a battle, but you have to be you,” Carlsen said. “We're going to prepare for Bellarmine by going back to what has given us success this season. 
 
“Then we're a tough team to beat.”
 
Lewis returns home to welcome Bellarmine to Neil Carey Arena for a 5:30 PM tip-off on Thursday (Feb. 14) for the first of three-straight GLVC home match-ups. The Flyers' next game will also be the first of two Play 4Kay pink games and will be broadcasted live on Lakeshore TV.