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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 2 Lewis women's basketball moved to 10-0 on the season with a 68-58 win over Northern Michigan on Thursday (Dec. 18) at Neil Carey Arena in a non-conference contest. The 10-game win streak is the longest for the Flyers since 2006-07.
 
Lewis led Northern Michigan for 37:28 however it was a close contest throughout. Northern Michigan's Alyssa Colia hit  3-pointer with three seconds remaining in the first half to give the Wildcats a 33-32 lead at halftime. It was just the second time all season the Flyers have trailed at the break.

The second half saw only three lead changes and two ties but it seemed each time Lewis increased their lead to multiple possessions, the Wildcats answered back.

Lewis entered the game averaging 78.3 points per game, ninth in the nation. But it was the Flyers' defense that was the difference down the stretch. Northern Michigan took a 56-54 lead with 7:22 remaining. Lewis would limit the Wildcats to just two points the rest of the way as Lewis finished the contest on a 14-2 run. Northern Michigan was 1-of-11 from the field in the final seven minutes and turned the ball over four times. Meanwhile Lewis senior Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) went 5-of-6 from the free throw line to help ice the game. She also hit a jumper with 1:23 remaining to put the Flyers up by five points.

Reinhart finished with a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) added 17 points and 15 boards. She also had three assists, including one on Reinhart's basket with 1:23 left.

"The difference was on the defense end," Lewis women's basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "Our best stretch of defense was that last five or six minutes. I thought (we) stepped up and got key stops and key rebounds when it counted."

Lewis recorded 10 blocks in the game, with junior Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) notching a career-high four. Both clubs shot below 40 percent.
 
Colla led the Wildcats with 17 points.

Northern Michigan falls to 4-4. The Flyers return to the court on Sunday (Dec. 21) at 1 p.m. against Grand Valley State. The 17^th ranked Lakers are 7-0.