ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University women's basketball team tips-off its 2019-20 basketball season with an exhibition contest at Northwestern University this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Flyers tip-off the regular season on Saturday hosting Michigan Tech in the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge at 3 p.m. That game will be part of a doubleheader as William Jewell will take on Northern Michigan in the first game of the day at 1 p.m.
Welcome Back – Lewis returns 10 player's off of last year's team that won 27 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior forward
Rachel Hinders (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) was a second team All-GLVC selection in 2018-19 and is joined by returning starters junior guard
Kaitlyn Williams (Homer Glen, Ill./Joliet Catholic) and sophomore guard
Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva).
In The GLVC – The Flyers were picked to finish second in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll. Drury was picked to win the league while Bellarmine was third, Southern Indiana was fourth and Lindenwood was picked fifth.
National Recognition – Lewis is getting some love in both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and D2SIDA Media Top 25 preseason polls. The Flyers are ranked 24th in the media poll and were receiving votes in the WBCA poll.
Season Leaders – Hinders is the top returning scorer and rebounder from last year's squad with 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Williams averaged 5.9 points a game, Hart contributed 3.6 points per contest and sophomore guard
Reilly Olmstead (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) added 3.5 points per game. Senior forward
Morgan Glatczak (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) led the team with 82 blocked shots.
Beyond The Arc – Williams was one of the top three-point shooting threats in the GLVC last season at a clip of 36.3 percent. Senior guard
Dajae Black (Chicago, Ill./Marist) hit seven of her 13 attempts from downtown, senior forward
Katie Gardner (Franklin, Wis./Pius XI) connected on 48 percent of her attempts, Hinders shot it at a rate of 32.5 percent and Hart was 22-for-69 from the perimeter.
About Northwestern – The Wildcats are coming off of a trip to the WNIT Championship game in a 21-win season in 2018-19. The 'Cats have four starters back as part of a returning cohort of 13 players. Abi Scheid, Lindsey Pulliam and Veronica Burton combined for 34.9 points per game and 100.1 minutes per game a year ago. Pulliam was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team as a unanimous coaches' selection.
About Michigan Tech – The Huskies went 21-9 overall and had a 16-4 mark in the GLIAC and claimed their 16th Division/Conference title. Tech is picked to the GLIAC's North Division earning 58 points in the poll along with eight first place votes. The Huskies edged out Northern Michigan who was picked second with 53 points and four first place votes. Tech returns three GLIAC All-Conference players from a year ago in Abbie Botz, Cassidy Trotter and Ellie Mackay who was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
About Northern Michigan – The Wildcats are coming off a 23-10 season in which they went 15-5 in the GLIAC and qualified for the NCAA Tournament advancing to the regional semifinals before falling to Drury. NMU returns two GLIAC All-Conference players from a year ago in Jessica Schultz and Lexi Smith. The 'Cats return 10 players off of last year's team.
