ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- The Lewis University women's basketball team defeated McKendree 66-61 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Hyatt Arena on the campus of Lindenwood University Thursday.
LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) (26),
Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (13),
Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (10)
Rebounds: Badali (5),
Stephanie Hart (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) (5), Schmidt (5)
Assists: Badali (5)
Steals: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (2)
Blocks: Gugliuzza (4)
TEAM RECORDS
No. 2 Lewis (20-9) | No. 7 McKendree (12-16)
SUMMARY
Lewis started the game with a layup from Schmidt and a three-pointer from Hilber to make it 5-0. McKendree responded with five points of their own to make it 5-5.
Moments later, McKendree grabbed a 12-11 lead, then Lewis responded with another three-pointer by Hilber and a layup from Schmidt for a 16-12 lead. The Flyers led 18-16 after the first quarter.
The Bearcats started the second quarter with a quick bucket to tie the contest up at 18-18 before Lewis responded with a 11-0 run capped off by a three-point play by
Lindsay Harrison (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) which gave the Flyers a 29-18 lead with 5:06 to go in the first half.
McKendree bounced back with six straight of their own to make it a five-point game (29-24) the next two minutes. Schmidt knocked down a three-pointer with 37 seconds left in the first half to give the Flyers a 36-26 lead at the break.
Schmidt opened up the second half with a basket to make it 38-26 in favor of Lewis. Moments later, Lewis made it 47-36 with 6:04 to play in the third quarter after Hilber made a three-pointer.
Lewis led 53-42 after the third quarter after Schmidt knocked down a triple.
McKendree started the final period with the first five points to cut it down to six (53-47) before the Flyers responded with a three-pointer by Schmidt. The Bearcats would go on and score 14 unanswered points the next four minutes, which gave them a 61-57 lead with 4:01 to play.
The Flyers responded with seven straight after Gugliuzza knocked down a three-pointer that gave Lewis a 64-61 lead with 1:51 remaining in the game. Lewis held McKendree without a basket in the final four minutes of the game as the Flyers picked up the 66-61 victory.
UP NEXT
Lewis will take on the winner of No. 6 seed Maryville/No. 3 seed Truman State for the GLVC Tournament Semifinals on Saturday, March 4, starting at 8:15 p.m.
