Box Score (PDF)

CHICAGO - No. 2 Lewis women's basketball fell in overtime at Loyola-Chicago 79-73 in the first exhibition contest of the season for the Flyers on Wednesday (Nov. 4) at Gentile Arena. Lewis rallied from a first-half deficit of 14 points to take a lead as large as six points in the fourth quarter before a Loyola basket with three seconds left in regulation forced overtime.

Lewis started cold, falling behind 20-6 after the first quarter. However over the game's next three quarters, Lewis outscored Loyola 58-44.

Lewis took their first lead of the game with 8:10 left on a traditional 3-point play by sophomore Tiana Karopulos (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) at 49-48. Lewis led by six points as late as 3:57 remaining on a jumper by freshman Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North). It was a four-point lead with 48 seconds left following a basket by senior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North). However Loyola scored the final four points of regulation, including a putback basket with three seconds remaining by Nieka Wheeler to tie the game.

The Flyers never held a lead in the overtime session.

Senior Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) led Lewis with 29 points. Brawner-Henley added 15 points and 13 rebounds. She scored 13 of her points after halftime. Kelliher had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

"I thought we started out slow and were really affected by Loyola's athleticism and physicality," Lewis head coach Kristen Gillespie said. "We came out of the locker room at half a different team. I am extremely proud of how hard we played in the second half to take the lead. The great thing about this game is that it was a fantastic learning tool for our team."

The Flyers out-rebounded the Ramblers 51-40. Lewis' offensive effort was hampered by 21 turnovers.

Up next for the Flyers is their second and final exhibition contest of the year on Saturday (Nov. 7) at 3:30 p.m. against DePaul.