ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University women's basketball team took down Illinois-Springfield, 73-54, and earned their third straight victory Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4).  The Flyers swept their three-game home stand winning each game by an average of 14 points, Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) led Lewis posting three straight double doubles, averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds over the stretch.
 
LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) (16), Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (13) and Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) (10)
Rebounds: Schmidt (12)
Assists: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (7)
Blocks: Gugliuzza (2) and Brown (2)
 
RECORDS
Lewis 14-8, 10-4 GLVC | Illinois-Springfield 2-20, 2-12 GLVC
 
SUMMARY
Facing an opponent that came into the game on a three-game losing streak, the Flyers were determined to display their dominance early in route to a win. Lewis did just that from the opening tip, getting out to an 8-2 lead in the opening five minutes. Junior Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) led the opening surge scoring four of the team's eight points.
 
Despite holding the Prairie Stars to 4-of-16 shooting in the first quarter, Lewis only led by four points.
 
In the second quarter, Illinois Springfield was able to tie the game at 19 after a Brianna Zajicek 3-pointer. Shortly after, Zajicek would a hit a pull-up jump shot to give Prairie Stars the lead with seven minutes left in the first half.
 
Lewis was able to regain the lead as their defense forced Illinois Springfield to commit five turnovers in the second quarter, which led to 13 points in the quarter. At the end of the first half Lewis had a one-point lead, 29-28, Gugliuzza posted 13 points and Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) added 10 points and six rebounds.
 
The Flyers scoring began to heat up in the third quarter as Hart made back-to-back layups and Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) scored an unanswered five points, helping Lewis go on a 9-1 run in three minutes of play. Moments later, Hilber would make another pull up jump shot that gave Lewis its first double-digit lead of the game.
 
Lewis was able to extend its lead to as much as 21 in the fourth quarter and cruise to the win.
 
The Flyers shot 24-of-51 (47.1 percent) from the field and 2-for-9 (22.2 percent) from behind the arc in the win. Lewis held Illinois Springfield to 19-of-66 (28.8 percent) shooting from the field and 4-for-28 (14.3 percent) from 3-point range.
 
Schmidt led the Flyers in points (16) and rebounds (12). Schmidt has now recorded seven double-doubles this season.
 
UP NEXT
Riding a three-game winning streak, Lewis will travel to Liberty, Missouri to take on William Jewell College on Thursday, February 9 at 5:30 p.m. CT.