ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's women's basketball team opened its 2020-21 season with a 76-66 loss to Truman State on Friday (Nov. 27) afternoon at Neil Carey Arena.

Lewis junior guard Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) led the Flyers with 15 points, while freshman forward Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshiire, Ill./Burlington Central) added 13 points and freshman guard Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) finished with 11 points. Freshman guard Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) had team-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (8).

The Flyers trailed early before going on a 9-2 run in a span of 3:14 to take an 11-6 lead. Senior guard Kaitlyn Williams (Homer Glen, Ill./Joliet Catholic) had six points in that run while Hart chipped in with three.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 11-8 on second chance layup from Allison Thomas but Lewis closed the quarter strong scoring the final eight points. Hart and Gugliuzza each hit three's in the run while redshirt sophomore forward Lindsay Harrison (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) added a layup.

The Flyers extended their lead to as many as 12 at 27-15 just 2:25 into the second quarter on a three-pointer by Schmidt. Lewis still led by 11 after a layup by Williams with 7:09 left in the half.

The Flyers went cold from the field as they were held scoreless for more than five minutes as Truman scored 12 straight points to retake the lead at 30-29. Freshman forward Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) gave Lewis the lead back momentarily with a layup but the Bulldogs countered with back-to-back baskets to take its largest lead of the half at 34-31.

Gugliuzza brought the Flyers back to within one at the half with a driving layup.

Lewis shot 13-for-37 (35.1 percent) from the floor, shot 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from three and was just 1-of-4 at the charity stripe. The Flyers were outrebounded 31-to-22 in the half.

Truman was 13-for-38 (34.2 percent from the field, shot 22 percent (4-for-18) from three and was 4-for-8 at the foul line.

The two sides exchanged leads four time over the first five minutes of the third quarter. The Flyers led 44-42 after a three from Harrison but that would be Lewis' final lead of the game as the Bulldogs finished the quarter on a 13-3 run to take an eight-point advantage into the final quarter.

The Flyers cut the lead to six on a basket from Hart to start the fourth quarter but wouldn't get any closer than that the rest of the way. Truman extended its lead to as many as 14 points with 3:32 left in the contest.

Lewis finished the contest shooting 32.9 percent (23-for-70) from the field, was 12-of-35 (34.3 percent) from three and shot 50 percent (8-for-16) at the foul line.

The Bulldogs heated up shooting the ball in the second half to finish the game making 41.4 percent (29-for-70) from the field, were 9-of-28 (32.1 percent) from three and shot 60 percent (9-for-15) at the foul line.

Hannah Belanger led all scorers with 20 points while Katie Jaseckas finished with a double-double recording 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tiffany Davenport added a game-high 10 assists.

The Flyers return to action on Sunday afternoon hosting Quincy at 1 p.m.