KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Lewis University women's basketball team notched its fifth straight win after Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) hit a 3-pointer as time expired. The Flyers trailed by as many as 19 before forcing overtime and winning at the horn, 90-87. Schmidt recorded a career-high 30 points in the win, shooting 58 percent from the field and grabbing eight rebounds.
 
LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Schmidt (30), Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (20) and Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) (12)
Rebounds: Schmidt (8), Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (6) and Hilber (6)
Assists: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (6), Hilber (5) and Gugliuzza (4)
Steals: Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) (2)
 
RECORDS
Lewis 16-8, 12-4 GLVC | Truman State University 17-8, 13-4 GLVC
 
SUMMARY
In a game in which Lewis trailed by as many as 19, the ending could not have been any less sweet for the Flyers. The Flyers were playing its second game in three days in Missouri, Lewis was looking to earn its fifth straight win, for the second time this season.
 
The Flyers did not start the game how they hoped, finding themselves in a 26-17 deficit after the first quarter. Truman State's lead expanded to 16 towards the end of the first half, shooting 50 percent from the field and 59 percent from 3-point range at that point.
 
As for Lewis their first half was one to forget, shooting 37 percent from the field and only making two of its 16 3-point attempts.
 
To start the second half, Lewis made five of first six shot attempts, cutting the lead down to eight. Continuing to chip at the deficit, the Flyers were able to cut the lead to three with around seven minutes remaining in regulation.
 
As Schmidt led the way scoring eight of the team's 23 points in the fourth quarter, it was Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) who made a crucial 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation. Gugliuzza's three with 22 seconds left not only was her only 3-pointer of the game but it also gave Lewis its first lead of the contest since the six minute mark in the first quarter.
 
After Truman State would make a quick layup following a timeout, Gugliuzza had a chance to end the game in regulation with a 3-pointer but it was short and the game was tied at 79 heading into overtime.
 
In overtime both teams traded points and were tied at 87 with less than two minutes on the clock. After a point-blank layup for Truman State was blocked by Schmidt, the Flyers had 45 seconds to work with. They ran a play for Schmidt where she missed a 3-pointer from the left corner, but Lindsay Harrison (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) was able to coral the offensive rebound and call a timeout with 19 seconds left.
 
Now with no shot clock, Lewis had one more opportunity. Identical play call designed for Schmidt to get a clean look from the left corner was run to perfection again and this time, Schmidt nailed the shot.
 
The Flyers celebrated as the buzzer sounded and after review, the shot was confirmed good. In the win, Schmidt scored a career-high 30 points. Her buzzer lifted Lewis to its fifth straight win, for the second time this season.
 
UP NEXT
Winners of five straight, Lewis will host Southwest Baptist University at Neil Carey Arena on Thursday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m. CT.