ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis' women's basketball team outscored Bellarmine 12-2 in the final 79 seconds to erase a four-point deficit in its 77-71 win on Saturday afternoon at Neil Carey Arena. The Flyers snap their two-game skid to improve to 13-7, 10-2 GLVC while the Knights fall to 11-8, 6-6 GLVC.
Lewis trailed by four with less than 90 seconds left when
Rachel Hinders (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) got fouled and went to the line to hit two free throws. After a stop on the other end,
Kaitlyn Williams (Homer Glen, Ill./Joliet Catholic) hit a three-pointer in transition from the right wing to give the Flyers their first lead since midway through the third quarter.
Lewis got another stop on the defensive end as
Katie Gardner (Franklin, Wis./Pius XI) drew a foul from Breia Torrens with 0:40 left to play. Torrens then fouled Gardner again who hit two free throws to put the Flyers ahead by three with 0:38 to go.
Bellarmine had a chance to tie the game but a missed shot and as
Morgan Glatczak (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) got the rebound. Glatczak tried to throw it ahead but was fouled in the back court and went to the line to hit 1-of-2 to put the Flyers ahead 73-69.
Lewis got another stop and Hinders was fouled with 0:13 left and hit two free throws to extend the lead to six points. The Knights got a quick bucket from Mikayla Berry but were forced to foul Hinders again who hit both free throws to ice the victory.
Gardner finished with game and career-highs in points (27) and had rebounds (11) while Hinders added 19 points and five rebounds. Williams added 12 points and Glatczak finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
The Flyers shot 39 percent (23-for-59) from the field, were 5-of-20 from three and shot 84 percent (26-for-31) at the foul line. Lewis outrebounded Bellarmine 46-to-29 in the contest.
The Knights shot over 40 percent from the floor, were 9-of-22 from three but shot only 67 percent at the foul line. They turned 15 Flyer turnovers into nine points. Torrens led three Bellarmine players in double digit scoring with 17 points while Berry added 16 and Tasia Jeffries finished with 10.
Lewis heads out on the road next weekend beginning with a trip to top ranked Drury next Thursday beginning at 5:45 p.m.
