PDF Box | HTML Box

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – No. 7 Lewis women's hoops defeated Truman State 59-51 on Saturday (Feb. 13) afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference road contest. The win gives Lewis a perfect 9-0 record in road GLVC games for a second consecutive season.

"I told the team they should be proud of going undefeated on the road in conference," Lewis head coach Kristen Gillespie said. "It's not an easy task, especially when you always get everyone's best shot. This team continues to find ways as a collective unit to step up."

Truman State jumped out to a 9-2 lead before the Flyers scored 10 straight to grab a 12-9 advantage midway through the first quarter.

The game's defining quarter was the second. Lewis out-scored Truman State 18-5 in the period and limited the Bulldogs to only one field goal.

The Flyers took a lead as large as 18 but Truman State made it a one-possession game with 1:27 remaining at 54-51. On the other end, the Flyers went to the All-American Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North). The senior finished with a driving layup off the glass to put the Flyers up two possessions once again. Lewis held on from that point.

"Mariyah gave us another All-American effort," Gillespie said.

Brawner-Henley finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds. She scored 16 of her points in the first half. For her career, she now has 1,873 points. She jumped from No. 4 on Lewis' career scoring leaderboard to No. 2 in the game.

Freshman Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) had 11 points for Lewis. Freshman Tierney Lockett (Richton Park, Ill./Rich South) recorded four points, two rebounds, two steals and an impressive block under the basket in 22 minutes.

"Tierney was outstanding for us off the bench," Gillespie said.

Lewis limited Truman State to 27.6 percent (16-of-58) shooting. The Flyers were 24-of-55 (43.6 percent) from the floor.

"Today was a hard fought battle against a phenomenal defensive team." Gillespie added. "I was really proud of the way we competed in the second half when our shots weren't falling."

The win clinches at least a tie of the GLVC East Championship. The Flyers can earn it outright, their fourth straight, with a win in any of their final three games.

Lewis returns to the court on Thursday (Feb. 18) vs. Indianapolis at Neil Carey Arena. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena. A win on Thursday would be Lewis' 20th consecutive win.