Women's Basketball | 3/14/2015 12:24:00 AM

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

No. 4 in the nation and second seeded Lewis women's basketball (29-2) takes on sixth seeded Wayne State (23-5) on Saturday (March 14) in the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinals. Tip at Michigan Tech University is set for 5 p.m. ET.  The game can be heard on 1340 WJOL with Mark Vasko on the call. Video and live stat links can be found at www.LewisFlyers.com.

VS. THE WARRIORS - Lewis is 6-2 all-time against the Warriors. That record includes a 87-80 win by Wayne State last season in the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinals. Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) had 32 points in the game but Wayne State, led by Shareta Brown's 24 points and 14 rebounds tripped the Flyers.

A WIN AND... - Lewis has never advanced past the NCAA Regional Semifinal round, meaning a win on Saturday would put Lewis in the Sweet 16 and Regional Final for the first time in program history.

IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT - Lewis is 5-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Lisa Carlsen is 2-3 in NCAA play. The Flyers are 0-1 against Wayne State in the NCAA Tournament. All-time results are below:
1983-84    vs. Northwest Missouri State L 63-81
1984-85    vs. Clarke L 63-64
1997-98    vs. Grand Valley State L 58-73
2004-05    vs. Southern Indiana W 64-32 /  vs. Indianapolis L 56-63
2005-06    vs. Lake Superior State W 89-66 / vs. Drury L 68-85
2006-07    vs. Bellarmine W 82-62 / vs. Drury L 62-67
2010-11    vs. Michigan Tech L 56-72
2012-13    vs. UW-Parkside L 49-59
2013-14    vs. Missouri-St. Louis W 69-64 / vs. Wayne State L 80-87
2014-15    vs. UW-Parkside W 80-66

DIRTY 30 - Lewis' 29 wins are the most by a GLVC team since Northern Kentucky finished 2008-09 29-3. Should Lewis win on Saturday, it would give the GLVC their first 30-win team since Drury's 30-3 mark in 2005-06. Only four GLVC teams have hit 30 wins. The 1999-00 Northern Kentucky Norse own the GLVC record for single season wins thanks to a 32-2 mark.

BEASTS OF THE EAST - Lewis has won the GLVC East Division for three straight seasons.
 
QUARTER OR MORE - Lewis has won 14 games by 25 points or more since the last time they lost a game by 25 points (94-59 at Central Missouri on Dec. 16, 2011).

20/20 VISION - This season is Lewis' ninth 20-win season in program history and the first time in program history the team has won 20 games in three straight seasons.

THOUSAND TIMES OVER - Juniors Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) both passed the 1,000 career point total on Jan. 4 at Truman State. In an interesting coincidence, Lewis head coach Lisa Carlsen scored her 1,000th career point in the same venue when playing for Northwest Missouri State. However when Carlsen scored her 1,000th point Truman State went by the name Northeast Missouri State.   

1,000 X THREE - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) are not the only 1,000 point scorers on the roster. Senior Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) owns 1,638 points, seventh all-time in Lewis history. A total of 22 Flyers have scored 1,000 points in program history. Reinhart's career point total ranks 14th among all-active DII players and 38th among active players at all three levels.

TOP 10 LIST - Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) is firmly set at seventh place (1,638) in career scoring at Lewis. Junior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) is 11th (1,304) while junior Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) is 10th (1,305) just in front of Brawner-Henley. They are inching towards ninth place Bonnie Richrath (1990-04) and her 1,309 points.

JOIN THE RANKS - Lewis' No. 1 ranking earlier this season was the first No. 1 national ranking for Lewis in program history. Lewis appeared at No. 9 in the preseason poll, moved up to No. 4 on Nov. 25, No. 3 on Dec. 2 and then No. 2 on Dec. 9. Lewis stayed at two until moving to No. 1 on Jan. 13. The Flyers spent five weeks as the No. 1 team in the country until a loss to Drury on Feb. 12 bumped the Flyers to No. 2. Lewis entered the NCAA Tournament No. 4 in the nation.

TAKE YOUR TIME - Despite several Flyers in the top 10 in many statistical categories in the GLVC, not a single Flyer ranks in the top 10 in minutes played in the league.

ON THE BOARDS - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North)'s 370 rebounds this season are the most for a player in a single season in school history. The total breaks the record she set last season at 350.

BEAT THE STREAK - The Flyers' 23-game win streak was the longest in program history. The previous record win streak was a 13-game win stretch held by the 2006-07 squad.

CONFERENCE CALL - Lewis' 17 GLVC wins this year set a program record.

THE LEWIS FIVE - When Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI), Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic), Kristin Itschner (Metamora, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame), Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic), Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) start the Flyers are 45-6. This group owns just one loss at home (Drury, Feb. 12) when they start as a unit.

JUST WIN BABY - Lewis' 29 wins are the most of any of the 34 NCAA DI or DII men's or women's basketball teams in the state of Illinois.

START EM UP - Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) has started all 88 games she has played in a Lewis uniform.

SINGLE SEASON WINS - Lewis' 29 are the most in a single season in Lewis history. The previous mark was held by the 2006-07 Flyers with a 28-4 record.

PLAYER, PLAYER (OF THE WEEK) - Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) and Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) were both named GLVC Player of the Week this season. Johnson took home awards on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. Brawner-Henley earned the honor on Dec. 22, Jan. 5 and March 2.

JA+A+A+A+A+MIE - Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) was named to the 2015 Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team. Johnson is the first Academic All-America First Team selection for the Lewis women's basketball program since Mary Moskal in 2006-07.
 
GLVC AWARDS - Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) was named the GLVC Player of the Year and to the All-GLVC First Team and All-Defensive Team. Forward Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) earned All-GLVC First Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Senior forward Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) picked up All-GLVC Second Team accolades. Lewis head coach Lisa Carlsen was named the GLVC Chuck Mallander Coach of the Year.

REGION AWARDS - Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) and Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) were both named to 2015 the Daktronics All-Midwest Region First Team in a vote of the league's sports information directors.  

SHOOTY HOOPS - Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) is 25th (52.4 percent) in the nation in field goal percentage.

ON THE BOARDS - Junior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) ranks 13th in the nation in rebounds per game (11.9) and seventh in the country in defensive rebounds per game (9.0). Her 23 double-doubles are the third most in the country.

DOUBLE TROUBLE - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) owns 48 career double-doubles. It is the most in Lewis history. Only nine players in NCAA Division II history have recorded 50 career double-doubles.

BETTER AT THE LINE - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) has improved in 2014-15 at the free throw line. She has made 93-of-129 (72.1 percent) on the season after making 92-of-143 (64.3 percent) last season.

PERFECT DOZEN - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) made 12-of-12 free throws in Lewis' win over Maryville on Jan. 10, 2015. It's the most made free throws in a game without a miss during the Lisa Carlsen era.

CAREER BEST - Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) dished out 11 assists, with only one turnover, in Lewis' 96-57 win at Rockhurst on Feb. 7. It was a new career high for the senior who twice before in 2014-15 tied her career best with 10 assists.

YOU NEVER SHOOT 3's - Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) owns a career field goal percentage of .507 (602-of-1189). Just three of those shots have been a 3-point attempt. She missed all three.

KEEP IT - Lewis ranks second in the nation with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.40. Individually, Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) is 17th (2.01).
 
SCORING POINTS - Lewis ranks third in the nation in scoring (81.5 points per game). It is on pace to be head coach Lisa Carlsen's highest scoring team. Her first seven teams averaged 69.7 points per contest with last season's squad averaging a tenure-best 78.3 points per game. The highest ever scoring team on record in program history was the 1988-89 team that averaged 81.7 points per game. The last GLVC team to score as many points as Lewis is averaging was the 2010-11 Quincy squad which averaged 86.3 points a contest.

TOTALLY - Lewis has already set the program record for single-season total points by scoring 2,526 this season. The previous record was in 1981-82 when Lewis scored 2,332 points.

FLYERS FROM THE BLOCK - Lewis ranks 13th in the nation in blocks per game with 4.8.

HELPING HAND - Lewis' 18.9 assists per game rank second in the nation.

D D D DEFENSE - Lewis is known from their offense, however this season opponents are shooting 36.9 percent, giving Lewis the 41st best defensive field goal percentage defense in the nation. This year only seven opponents have shot better than 40 percent against the Flyers.

NO NEED TO BE PERSONAL - Lewis is committing only 14.1 fouls per game, fifth fewest in the nation.

ON THE BOARDS - Lewis is averaging 43.6 rebounds per game. It is the most since the Flyers averaged 45.3 rebounds per game in 1994-95.

EXCELLENT ALEXUS - Senior Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) is the first Flyer off the bench. She owns 16 games this season of double-digit points.

1-2-3 - Two current Flyers rank in the top 10 of career made 3-pointers. Junior Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) ranks fifth with 148 and senior Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) is tied for seventh with 147.

"MO" BLOCKS - Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), or Mo to her teammates, ranks sixth all-time in career blocks with 98. She is just short of fifth place Labrenthia Murdock's 99 (2009-13).

FREE FOR A REASON - By the numbers, two of the best free throw shooters in school history are on the roster. Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) ranks first in career free throw percentage (.850/271-of-319) while Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) ranks third (.825/434-of-526). Reinhart ranks 20th of all active NCAA DII players for career free throw percentage. Johnson ranks 13th of all active NCAA Division II players.
 
LINE UP! - Lewis ranks eighth in the nation in free throw percentage, 458-of-589 (77.8 percent).  

HELPING HAND - Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) owns 497 career assists, fourth most among active Division II players and 30th among all three NCAA Divisions. Her total is also second in Lewis history. She is only behind first place Brittney Diener's 500 (2003-07).

HELPING HAND X2 - Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI)'s 163 assists this season ranks second all-time in Lewis history for single season assists. The 178 of Rosemary Turner in 1986-87 stand as the most.

DI AND DONE - Lewis made history this year before the season even started by becoming the first non-DI school to defeat three DI teams in exhibitions. The Flyers topped Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois and Marquette.

JUST TOOK ONE WIN - Thanks to Lewis' season opening win over Saginaw Valley State, Lewis head coach Lisa Carlsen is now the program leader in wins. It was her 118th career win. She passed Brian Michalak's (1993-2002) career total of 117-126.

CLEANING THE GLASS - Junior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) recorded 21 points and 22 rebounds in Lewis' 83-75 victory over Northwood on Nov. 15, 2014. Her career-high 22 rebounds was one short of tying the Lewis program record for rebounds in a single game. Julie Fruendt holds the record with 23 boards against Valparaiso during the 1984-85 season. Brawner-Henley made another run at the record on Jan. 4 when she grabbed 21 rebounds in a game vs. Truman State.

MIRACLE MINUTE (AND A HALF) - Lewis trailed St. Edward's by six points with a little more than a minute and half remaining on Nov. 28. Lewis closed the game on an 11-3 run with Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) scoring nine of those points to help Lewis get the win.

1 VS. 5 - Lewis limited Upper Iowa to only five field goals in the second half on Nov. 22. Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) recorded six field goals herself in the half. Lewis outscored the Peacocks 43-18 in the final 20 minutes.

BASKETBALL 101 - Lewis scored 101 points vs. Upper Iowa on Nov. 22. The last time Lewis scored 100 points in a non-overtime game was Dec. 16, 2003 when Lewis topped Saint Xavier (Ill.) 105-83. The Flyers hit 101 again on Jan. 17 vs. UIS.

20 MINUTES OR LESS - Lewis has scored 50 points in a half six times this season. In the first half, Lewis scored 58 vs. Upper Iowa (Nov. 22), 53 at Trevecca Nazarene (Dec. 15), 51 at Truman State (Jan. 4), 53 vs. McKendree (Jan. 15), 64 vs. UIS (Jan. 17) and 56 at Rockhurst (Feb. 7). Only once in a second half has Lewis scored 50 points, when they scored exactly 50 at St. Francis (IL) (Dec. 6).