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PDF BoxASHLAND, Ohio – No. 6 Lewis women's basketball saw their 2015-16 season come to an end on Friday (March 11) afternoon in the NCAA Midwest Region Quarterfinals at the hands of Grand Valley State 72-70. The Lakers' Janae Langs hit a jumper with three seconds remaining to give GVSU the win. The Flyers entered as the No. 2 seed, with GVSU holding the No. 7 seed.
Langs' basket came after Lewis freshman
Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) tied the game with eight seconds left on layup under the basket. GVSU called their final timeout and moved the ball to half court. Langs took the ball on her own and made a jumper just outside the lane for the winner.
The Flyers trailed for nearly five straight minutes until Kelliher's basket. GVSU's Bailey Cairnduff hit the Lakers' 10
th 3-pointer of the game to put GVSU up two possessions at 68-64 with 1:30 remaining. But GVSU missed two free throws in the final minute to allow Kelliher's bucket to tie the game.
Lewis out-shot Grand Valley State 46.2 percent (24-of-52) to 39.7 percent (23-of-58). The Flyers finish the season out-shooting their opponents in each game this season.
Neither team held a lead larger than four points in the second half.
Kelliher finished with a game-high 20 points with four rebounds and four assists. She made 6-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the line. Senior
Mariyah Brawner-Henley (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) scored 15 points with 20 rebounds and six assists. Brawner-Henley became Lewis' all-time leading scorer in the game. She finishes her career with 1,981 points and 1,282 rebounds. She is the Flyers' all-time leader in both categories. Her double-double was the 72
nd of her career, second all-time in NCAA Division II history.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group," Lewis head coach
Kristen Gillespie said. "We never gave up, we kept fighting in that last minute and gave ourselves a chance. That is all a coach can ask for. "
Sophomore
Tiana Karopulos (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) had 10 points, including a key running jumper in the lane in the final minute.
It was the second upset of the day after No. 3 seed Bellarmine fell to No. 6 Saginaw Valley State to open the day.
Friday's game, played at regional host Ashland University, featured 17 lead changes and 10 ties.
GVSU improves to 23-9 and will play Saginaw Valley State on Saturday in the regional semifinals. Lewis finishes the 2015-16 campaign 28-3. Two of Lewis' three losses came at the hands of GVSU.