HTML Box Score / PDF Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 4 Lewis women's basketball saw the best season in school history come to an end on Tuesday (March 24) evening in the Elite Eight at the Sanford Pentagon at the hands of No. 2 Limestone 61-58.

The Flyers had three looks at a 3-pointer in the final 12 seconds but neither two shots by senior Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) nor one by junior Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) were successful.

Lewis needed a 3-pointer after Limestone's Morgan Brown made two free throws with 24 seconds remaining in the game. Her free throws came a play after a baseline jumper by senior Kristin Itschner (Metamora, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame) with 38 seconds remaining was no good that could have put the Flyers up one point.
 
Grayer made a 3-pointer with 8:26 remaining in the game to put the Flyers up 56-51. Lewis' next and final basket would come on a layup by junior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) with 2:19 left to make the score 59-58 in favor of the Saints.

Much of the final eight minutes came with Brawner-Henley and senior Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) not on the court due to both having four fouls.
 
"I think that we got beat by a really good ball club tonight in Limestone," Lewis head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "It was a hard-fought battle. You have to give them a lot of credit, I thought they played well, especially defensively. They gave us troubles at times. I think it was a great ballgame by both teams, but unfortunately they made a few more plays than we did."

Limestone played a zone defense and their length helped force 20 Lewis turnovers.

The Flyers held a 35-29 lead at halftime thanks to senior Kristin Itschner (Metamora, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame)'s 10 points in the opening half. Junior Alyssa Dengler (Chicago, Ill./Trinity)'s two 3-pointers also helped Lewis' cause in the first half. Limestone opened the second half hot, taking a 41-40 lead with 15:28 left. But the Flyers responded on a 13-3 run to take an eight-point lead with 12:04 remaining. Limestone chipped at the deficit and took the lead for good at 58-56 with 5:35 left thanks to a 3-pointer by Celestra Warren.

Limestone limited Lewis to 22-of-64 shooting (34.4 percent). The Saints shot 23-of-63 from the floor (36.5 percent).

Grayer led Lewis with 14 points. Itschner totaled 13 points.
 
The Saints improve to 34-1 and will play Cal Baptist on Wednesday in the national semifinals.

Lewis closes the 2014-15 campaign 31-3, setting school records for most wins and fewest losses in the process. This was Lewis' first Elite Eight berth in program history.

"What this group has accomplished this year is pretty remarkable," Carlsen said. "From the day they stepped on the court and got ready to practice, we knew this was going to be a special year and a lot of firsts for Lewis."

Senior Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) finishes her career as Lewis' all-time leader in assists with 510. Reinhart will graduate seventh all-time in Lewis history in points with 1,668 and fourth in rebounding (831). Itschner finishes her career with 857 points, 381 rebounds, 267 assists and the 10th most blocks in school history (73). Grayer's 154 career 3-pointers ranks sixth in Lewis history.