ROMEOVILLE, Ill – The Lewis University women's basketball team finished off a close game against the Hillsdale Chargers with clutch free throw shooting while winning 70-68. 

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 3-1 | Hillsdale 2-4

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (20)
Rebounds: Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill./Illinois Central College) (10)
Assists: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (3), Gugliuzza (3)
Steals: Badali (3), Gugliuzza (3)
Blocks: McNamee (2), Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) (2)
 
GAME SUMMARY 
Returning home for the first home game of the season, the Flyers started off with the first points of the game off of a Badali three. Two good free throws from Yahaira Bueno (Bolingbrook,IL/Bolingbrook) put Lewis up by five to start. Hillsdale took the lead with a little over two minutes remaining in the first quarter which they took into the second. 

After losing the first quarter, the Flyers would go on to out score Hillsdale in the remaining three quarters. It took some time for Lewis to get going again in the second but a layup from McNamee got the Flyers on the board again. The Chargers continued to hold a steady lead when Taylor and Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) locked in for nine straight points. A three from Mercy Lasu (Winnipeg, Canada/D'Youville) and a good free throw from Cesarini made it 34-31 Hillsdale at halftime. 

First bucket out of half-time was a jumper from McNamee for two, followed by a layup by Badali to give Lewis a 35-34 lead. Hillsdale took the lead back and at least hold a tie for the remainder of the third.

Bueno and Kree Nunnalley tied the game twice for the Flyers but at the end of the quarter the game was tied at 50, thanks to two good free throws by Gugliuzza, Tara. 

Out of the break Nunnally got to work and gave Lewis the lead off of an assist by Cesarini. Lewis continued scoring in the fourth but Hillsdale was always right behind them.

The game continued to be close as the seconds ticked off the clock. Down the stretch, the Gugliuzzas once again locked in for a string of points to give Lewis a good push towards the finish.

After a Gugliuzza, Taylor, three Hillsdale responded with a jumper to tie the game at 66. Gugliuzza stole the ball and then score a layup off the turnover.

It then became a game of free throws, to which Lewis had the advantage as the walked away with the 70-68 win. 

UP NEXT
The Flyers head out on the road again in Kenosha, Wis. on Tuesday, November 26 as they take on Parkside at 5 p.m.