HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Lewis University women's basketball team started its 2023-24 season with a 56-52 loss to Northern Michigan Friday (Nov. 10) at Michigan Tech's SDC Gymnasium.

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (10), Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (10), Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (10)
Rebounds: Hilber (9), Gugliuzza (7)
Assists: Badali (2)
Steals: Hilber (2)

RECORDS
Northern Michigan 1-0 | Lewis 0-1

SUMMARY
A pair of three-point shots put Northern Michigan ahead early, but McNamee scored on back-to-back possessions for Lewis to cut the deficit to 6-4. After the Wildcats had pushed the lead to 13-6, the Flyers scored on three straight possessions to grab an 8-2 run and trim the NMU lead to 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second, a layup by Badali gave Lewis its first lead of the game, but the Wildcats answered with an 8-2 run, making three consecutive field goals, to regain the advantage. The Flyers rallied back with a 9-1 run, capped off by a Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) three-pointer, to grab a 27-24 lead.

Northern Michigan used a 9-4 push to close the first half with a 33-31 lead. NMU's 8/18 (44.4%) performance from the three-point line had contributed to its lead, while Lewis' 17-14 advantage in rebounds and 3-0 edge in steals helped gain extra possessions for the Flyers and keep pace with the Wildcats.

Lewis turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, making it difficult for Northern Michigan to score throughout the frame. Midway through the quarter, the Wildcats still led 39-36 as both sides struggled on offense.

Then, the Flyers got going with a 9-2 run. Over the scoring burst, Gugliuzza had five points for Lewis while Hilber scored four. The Wildcats shot just 2-13 in the third, and turned the ball over four times, which the Flyers took advantage of to secure a 44-41 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Lewis kept going early in the fourth, with a layup by Courier giving the Flyers its largest lead of the game at 47-41. But NMU charged from that point, using a 10-2 run to take back the lead, 51-49.

A Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) three-point play put Lewis back ahead, but the Wildcats scored on the ensuing possession to go ahead, 53-52, going into the final minute of regulation. Northern Michigan went 1-for-2 at the free throw line on three consecutive possessions to take a 56-52 lead, and the Flyers were unable to answer in the closing seconds.

UP NEXT
Lewis women's basketball stays in Houghton, Mich., to take on Michigan Tech Saturday (Nov. 11) at 5 p.m. CT.