SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Lewis University women's basketball team won, 97-88, at Illinois-Springfield Thursday (Feb 15). Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) had her eighth 20+ point game this season for the Flyers, and the team went 32/53 (.604) from the field, the highest shooting percentage for Lewis this year and the 97 points were a season-high as well.

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Hilber (28), Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (19), Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) (16), Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (13)
Rebounds: Hilber (8)
Assists: Hilber (4)
Steals: Schmidt (2)
Blocks: None

RECORDS
Lewis 15-8 (14-3 GLVC) | Illinois-Springfield 13-11 (11-7 GLVC)

SUMMARY
UIS started strong, taking a 12-4 lead early. Lewis got right back in it with a 7-0 run including baskets by Schmidt, Hilber and Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill.).

After a score by the Prairie Stars, a three-point shot from Hilber and a layup by McNamee gave the Flyers its first lead of the game. Things went back-and-forth from there, and UIS held a 24-23 lead after the first quarter behind 10/17 (.588) shooting from the field, while Lewis was 10/18 (.556).

The Flyers opened the second quarter with a 9-0 charge to take the advantage behind five points from Hilber. The Prairie Stars responded with a 10-2 run to tie the score at 34.

Lewis got going again on offense, though, scoring the next seven points and taking a 45-38 lead into halftime. The Flyers were still shooting well, going 7/13 (.538) from the field in the second quarter while UIS cooled off, shooting 3/15 (.200).

Schmidt knocked down a three to open the second half and gave Lewis a 10-point lead, 48-38. The Prairie Stars scored the next six points then Hilber hit a deep ball and a jumper on the next two possessions to bring the Flyers' lead up to 53-44.

Later in the third, a 13-5 push from Lewis with six points from Tay. Gugliuzza made it a 15-point lead for Lewis at 68-53. The Flyers held a 68-55 lead heading to the fourth quarter, shooting an outstanding 26/44 (.591) from the field through the first 30 minutes.

In the fourth, Lewis turned the ball over on each of its first three possessions after giving up 10 turnovers in the third quarter to help UIS get closer, cutting the deficit to 68-59. Later, an 8-0 run by the Prairie Stars trimmed the Flyers' lead to just two, 72-70. 

An and-one by Badali with 5:47 to play made it 78-74 Lewis but UIS then scored twice in a row to tie it at 78. The Flyers then got a layup from Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) to retake the lead, followed by a huge three-pointer from Schmidt to make it 83-78.

Badali followed up with another big three on Lewis' next possession to bring the lead to six, 86-80. Lewis was able to hit free throws and defend from there to seal the 97-88 victory.

UP NEXT
Lewis women's basketball has another in-state matchup Saturday (Feb. 17) at Quincy, with tipoff set for 1 p.m. CT.