PDF Box ScoreCHICAGO – Looking like the No. 9 team in the nation, Lewis women's basketball dominated an exhibition contest at Division I Loyola-Chicago on Tuesday (Nov. 4) evening. The Flyers led by as many as 27 points, eventually winning by a score of 83-61.
Loyola opened the game with an 11-2 lead only to see the Flyers respond with a 15-0 run. Lewis struggled out of the gates thanks partially to reigning Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year junior
Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) picking up two fouls in the first minute. When Brawner-Henley returned to he game, she made three consecutive baskets. Her first hoop put the Flyers up 21 points at 39-18 with 2:54 remaining in the first half. Lewis finished the first half leading 45-26. The Flyers' offense in the first half was keyed by 21 points off 12 Loyola turnovers. The Ramblers never threatened in the second half.
"We did a better job of rebounding the basketball after the first few minutes and we were able to run in transition," Lewis head coach
Lisa Carlsen said. "That's a huge key for us no matter who we play."
The Flyers out-rebounded the Ramblers 49-42, with a 19-15 edge in offensive boards. Lewis shot 41.7 percent (30-of-72) from the floor. The Ramblers finished at 36.4 percent (24-of-66).
Senior
Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) and Brawner-Henley each had a game-high 17 points. Senior
Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) finished with 13 points, including a four-point play in the first half. Senior
Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) added 10 points. Senior
Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) added recorded assists and no turnovers.
Lewis' win is their first in an exhibition game over an NCAA Division I team since Nov. 5, 2006 when Lewis defeated Western Illinois 50-42. The Flyers' last win over a Division I team came in a regular season contest at Chicago State, 65-63, on Jan. 23, 2008 in head coach
Lisa Carlsen's first season with the Flyers.
"Tonight was a great team effort," Carlsen said. "We were put in a tough situation early after the first few minutes and we rallied around the challenges. Each person did their job and it showed how good we can be when we play as a team."
Lewis is 1-0 in the exhibition season while the Ramblers are 0-1. The Flyers play their second of three exhibition contests on Saturday (Nov. 8) at Northern Illinois. Tip in DeKalb is set for 3 p.m.
