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LEBANON, Ill. – Senior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half as No. 9 Lewis women's basketball edged McKendree 51-46 in the closest game of the year for the Flyers. The Great Lakes Valley Conference win gives Lewis their 20^th victory of the season.

Brawner-Henley brought her career total to 1,774 to take over fifth place all-time in Lewis history. She surpassed Mary Moskal's 1,761 points from 2003-07.

McKendree took a 43-40 lead with 5:34 left in the game on a pair of three throws by Kelsee Ennis. But the final five minutes belonged to Lewis as the Flyers closed the game on an 11-3 run with Brawner-Henley recording seven of the points. The biggest basket came with 2:44 left and Lewis up by one. The Flyers were inbounding the ball under the basket when Brawner-Henley found space underneath. She quickly finished the layup and was fouled on the play. She completed the three-point play to put Lewis up 47-43. Brawner-Henley had another key score at 1:04 to give Lewis a 49-46 lead. The senior made a nice move on the baseline to get inside and earn the layup.

"McKendree deserves a ton of credit," Lewis head coach Kristen Gillespie said. "I thought they had the momentum for 35 minutes of the game."

Key down the stretch was Lewis' ability to hang on to the ball. The Flyers didn't commit a turnover in the final five minutes after having more turnovers (three) than baskets (one) in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Saturdays contest featured 11 lead changes and four ties.

"Our shots weren't falling but we found a way to execute down the stretch," Gillespie said. "I loved how we never hung our heads and kept fighting."

Freshman Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) scored a game-high 19 points with nine rebounds.

The win give Lewis their 10th 20-win season in program history. It is Lewis' fourth consecutive 20-win season. The Flyers are 98-16 since the start of the 2012-13 season.

McKendree falls to 10-11 (5-6 GLVC). Lewis improves to 20-1 (11-0 GLVC). The Flyers return home on Thursday (Feb. 4) to face Rockhurst. Tip at Neil Carey Arena is set for 5:30 p.m.