HTML Box Score /
PDF Box ScoreROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 2 Lewis women's basketball out-scored No. 17 Grand Valley State 17-6 over the final five minutes, including a 10-of-10 showing at the free throw line, to defeat the Lakers 78-65 on Sunday (Dec. 21) afternoon at Neil Carey Arena. The contest was Lewis' final non-conference game of the season.
The win improves Lewis to 11-0 on the season while handing the Lakers (7-1) their first loss.
The Flyers led for the majority of the contest, including a nine-point lead in the first half and a 38-33 lead at the break. The Lakers rallied back in the second half and took a four-point lead at 50-46 with 11:06 remaining on a layup by Meryl Cripe. With the Lakers putting a run together, Lewis went to their leading scorers. Junior
Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), junior
Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) and senior
Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) combined to score 28 of Lewis' 30 points in the game's final 10 minutes.
Those three Flyers helped Lewis go on an 8-0 run following the under five-minute media timeout to take a 68-59 advantage with 3:24 remaining. Grand Valley used a pair of treys to make it a five-point game with 1:31 remaining at 70-65. On the ensuing possession the Flyers went to Reinhart in the post. She was fouled going up for a layup. She made both free throws to all but put the game away.
"Those five kids that were on the floor to end the game have been in some big situations," Lewis head coach
Lisa Carlsen said. "They really stepped it up on the defensive end and were able to shut down a really good Grand Valley State team late."
Johnson led Lewis with 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Reinhart added 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Both players scored 12 points in the second half. Brawner-Henley finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, she grabbed nine boards in the second half to earn her eighth double-double of the season.
Lewis shot 40.6 percent in the contest while Grand Valley recorded a 38.8 percent shooting percentage. The difference came at the line. Lewis connected on 18-of-20 from the charity stripe while the Lakers made 4-of-6.
The Flyers take an extended break for Christmas and New Years and then return to the court Jan. 2 at Quincy in a conference game. Start time against the Hawks is set for 5:30 p.m.
