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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 8 Lewis women's basketball used a 40-16 points in the paint advantage to defeat William Jewell 65-54 on Saturday (Feb. 6) afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest. Dating back to last season, the victory is Lewis' 17^th straight conference win. It sets a new program record.

The win also gives Lewis a 100-16 record since the start of the 2012-13 season. The Flyers are only the fourth team in GLVC history to reach 100 wins in a four-year span.

Senior Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) finished with her 66^th career double-double thanks to 16 points and 12 rebounds. She brings he career points total to 1,819, tying Jenny Turpel (2007-11) for fourth all-time in Lewis history. Her career rebound total is now 1,185. She needs three rebounds to become the GLVC's all-time leading rebounder. The current record holder is Sloan Haughey's 1,187 for Saint Joseph's from 1989-93.

Saturday's game felt much like Thursday's win over Rockhurst where the Flyers never trailed but could never put the pesky visitors away.

William Jewell scored eight straight points early in the fourth quarter to make the Lewis lead 52-50 with 6:11 remaining. But four straight points by freshman Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) followed as Lewis earned some breathing room. Her four points started a 13-4 run by Lewis to close the game. The Flyers limited the Cardinals to 1-of-11 shooting during that stretch. 

"I think we were much better on the defensive end tonight than on Thursday," Lewis head coach Kristen Gillespie said. "I thought our communication was fantastic."

William Jewell finished 18-of-61 (29.5 percent) from the floor. Lewis shot 24-of-46 (52.2 percent).

Despite the low shooting percentage for the Cardinals, they stayed in the game by out-rebounding Lewis 41-31 including 20-6 on the offensive end. 

Kelliher finished with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Freshman Kayla Brewer (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee School of Languages) pitched in nine points and six rebounds with three assists and a block.

The Flyers wore pink uniforms on Saturday as part of the Play 4Kay Fight Against Breast Cancer initiative. Lewis is now 5-2 all-time in the pink uniforms.

Lewis improves to 22-1 (13-0 GLVC). William Jewell falls to 10-14 (5-8 GLVC). The Flyers return to action on Thursday (Feb. 11) at Quincy in a 5:30 p.m. start.