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PDF Box ScoreROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The first ever game for Lewis women's basketball as the No. 1 team in the country went flawless as Lewis cruised to a 91-57 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory on Thursday (Jan. 15) evening at Neil Carey Arena over McKendree.
Lewis scored the first nine points of the game and eventually took a 22-6 lead less than seven minutes into the contest after five straight points by senior
Kristin Itschner (Metamora, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame). By the half, Lewis held a 53-31 lead with juniors
Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and
Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) each with 13 points. Itschner scored 11 at the break. It was the fourth time this season Lewis has scored 50 or more points in the first half. The Flyers cruised in the second half to the 33-point conference victory.
"This group is used to playing with expectations and the number one ranking is part of that now," Lewis head coach
Lisa Carlsen said. "Tonight I think you saw us really play our game. We moved the ball well and were able to get several kids involved in transition."
The Flyers out-shot the Bearcats 60.9 percent (39-of-64) to 30.9 percent (21-of-68). The 60.9 percent is the best Lewis has shot in a game since shooting 62.7 percent at Missouri-St. Louis on Dec. 6, 2008.
Lewis recorded 27 assists on their 39 baskets. It is Lewis' most assists in a game since notching 29 at Bellarmine on Feb. 2, 2008.
Itschner finished with a season-high 20 points. Brawner-Henley recorded a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds while adding four blocks. She helped the Flyers record a season-high 13 blocks in the game. It's the most blocks in a game on record for the Flyers, with single-game records going back to 2002-03. Johnson totaled 18 points. Senior
Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) added 12 points and senior
Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) pitched in 10 points off the bench.
The win moves Lewis to 16-0 (6-0 GLVC). McKendree falls to 1-12 (0-5 GLVC). Lewis returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 17) in a GLVC contest at home against UIS. Tip against the Prairie Stars is set for 1 p.m.
