ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University's women's basketball team defense led the charge as the Flyers took down William Jewell 57-45, at Neil Carey Arena, for the Play for Preemies Game, Saturday. Lewis forced the Cardinals to commit 18 turnovers en route to winning its third game of the year.

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis (3-5, 3-1 GLVC) | William Jewell (1-8, 0-4 GLVC)

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (13) and Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (12)
Rebounds: Hilber (12) and Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (9)
Assists: Badali (4)
Steals: Gugliuzza (3)

SUMMARY
Lewis went up 3-0 early then William Jewell went on a 7-2 run to take the 7-5 lead. The Cardinals went up 14-8 with five minutes left in the opening quarter before Lewis went on a 10-4 run at the end of the period which was capped off by a Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) 3-pointer to tie the game at 18. 

Lewis was the first team to score in the second quarter as Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) made a layup to give the Flyers a 20-18 lead. Both teams went back-and-forth before Lewis went up 29-25 with under three minutes to play in the half.

The Flyers ended the first half with a basket with five seconds left by Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) to give the Flyers a 33-28 lead at the break.

Lewis started off the second half struggling from the floor as WJC grabbed a 37-36 lead with under five minutes left in the third quarter.  The Flyers ended the third quarter with a 3-pointer from Gugliuzza and a jumper by Badali to make it 43-39 in favor of Lewis.

Lindsay Harrison (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) was able to extend the Flyers lead with a jump shot and two made free throws which made it 47-39 with 6:40 left in the game. Badali made it a double-digit lead at 51-41 with 3:07 after making a jumper. 

Lewis was able to expand their lead to 13 after forcing some turnovers. The Flyers ended up with the 57-45 victory.

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Tuesday, December 6 as the Flyers travel to Kenosha, Wis. to take on the Parkside Rangers starting at 6 p.m. CT. 

RAE STRONG FOUNDATION
To find out more information about the Rae Strong Foundation watch an interview co-founders Dan Friend and Lorlee Smith here. For more information on the Rae Strong Foundation visit https://raestrong.org/