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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – They say you can't win them all, but that is just what the No. 5 Lewis women's basketball team did in Great Lakes Valley Conference play this season. The Flyers rallied from a five-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat UW-Parkside 66-60 on Thursday (Feb. 25) evening at Neil Carey Arena in the regular season finale. The win gives Lewis a perfect 18-0 record in the GLVC.

Down 54-49 with 5:42 remaining, Lewis went to work. On the defensive end they limited the Rangers to only six points the rest of the game. The All-American senior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), in her final game at Neil Carey Arena if Lewis doesn't host the NCAA Midwest Regional, scored eight points down the stretch. Her basket with 2:39 left in the game gave the Flyers the lead for good. Freshman Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) had five points in the late push.

The Rangers' best final chance to tie the game came with 11 seconds and down two points. Stephanie Furr's contested layup attempt was no good and Brawner-Henley came down with the rebound. From there sophomore Tiana Karopulos (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) made 4-of-4 free throws to ice the game.

Kelliher had a game-high 25 points in only 24 minutes due to foul trouble. Brawner-Henley had 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Lewis is now only the third team in GLVC history to go undefeated in league play. The 2005-06 Drury Panthers went 19-0. The 1996-97 Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles went 20-0.

"This is all about the young ladies in that locker room," Lewis head coach Kristen Gillespie said. "I'm so proud of their focus and drive. I knew when I took this position this was a good job. But I didn't know how special this group was."

The Flyers shot 51.0 percent (25-of-49) while limiting the Rangers to 38.1 percent (24-of-63) shooting. UW-Parkside did much of their damage on second chance opportunities. They held a 16-6 advantage in offensive rebounds, and used it to edge Lewis 20-6 in second chance points.

The Rangers conclude the regular season 13-13 (7-11 GLVC). Lewis improves to 27-1 (18-0 GLVC). Lewis will enter the GLVC Tournament on a 22-game win streak. The Flyers are the No. 1 seed and have earned a bye in the First Round. Lewis' next game will be in the GLVC Quarterfinals on Thursday (March 3) against an opponent to be determined. The event will be hosted at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.