ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's women's basketball team's upset bid against eighth ranked Ashland came up a point short in an 80-79 loss to the Eagles at Neil Carey Arena. The Flyers drop to 0-4 on the season while the Eagles move to 3-0.

Ashland opened up a 6-1 lead before Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) scored Lewis' first field goal on a jumper two minutes into the game. The Eagles built their lead to as many as 10 points at 21-11 before Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) scored on a jumper with 55 seconds left for the final points of the first quarter making it 21-13 after the first quarter.

Schmidt cut the lead to six points with the first points of the second quarter before Ashland built the lead back to 10 points at 25-15. Ashland built its lead up to 12 points at 29-17 and again at 31-19 before Lewis cut into the lead with a 12-2 run.

Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) had seven points and Schmidt had the other five points during the spurt for the Flyers during the three-minute spurt. The Eagles built the lead back to five points, but Schmidt finished the half with a three-pointer to make it a 38-36 deficit at the half.

Ashland came out with the first six points of the third quarter to build the lead up to eight points at 44-36, and maintained a 48-40 advantage when the Flyers went on an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 51-51 with 3:28 left in the third quarter on a Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) three-pointer.

After an Eagle basket gave them the lead back, the Flyers responded with seven straight to build a 58-52 advantage before six straight points from the Eagles to finish the third quarter tied the score at 58-58 entering the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded points over the first three minutes of the final frame and were still tied at 65 after an old fashioned three-point play from Karlee Pireu which ignited a 10-0 a run for Ashland as it stretched its lead to seven with 5:30 remaining.

Lewis still trailed by eight with 3:03 left when it was its turn to go on a long run as they scored nine straight points to take a 79-78 lead on a jumper by Hilber with 1:18 to go.

The Eagles answered on the ensuing possession as Annie Roshak hit a jumper with 0:56 left to regain the lead.

The Flyers had two chances to win the game but an offensive foul on Shawnton Brown (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Central) gave the ball back to Ashland but the Eagles gave it right back as Morgan Yoder was called for a foul with 0:29 left to give Lewis the ball back.

The Flyers had a chance to hold for the final shot but Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) missed a jumper with 0:03 to play but Hart got the rebound with 0:01 left but Lewis was unable to get another shot off in time.

The Flyers finished the contest shooting 46 percent (29-for-63) from the floor, were 7-of-17 from three and shot 88 percent (14-for-16) at the foul line. Lewis turned 26 Ashland turnovers into 23 points. The Flyers were led by Schmidt in scoring with 18 points while Hart and Gugliuzza added 16 points apiece, Badali had 14 points and Hilber finished with 13 points. Schmidt led the Flyers with seven rebounds.

Roshak had a game-high 24 points to lead the Eagles and she was joined in double figures by Sydney Jacobsen with 16 points and Pireu finished with 13 points. The Eagles had a 29-21 rebound advantage.

Lewis continues its five-game homestand on Tuesday (Nov. 23) hosting Purdue Northwest at 5 p.m.