QUINCY, Ill. – The Lewis University women's basketball team earned a comeback victory, 76-70, at Quincy Saturday (Feb. 17). The win keeps the Flyers tied for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with Drury at 15-3 with four games to go and Lewis owning the tiebreaker over the Panthers with its victory over Drury back on November 30.

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (20), Grace Hilber (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) (20), Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) (19)
Rebounds: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (9)
Assists: Badali (5)
Steals: Gugliuzza (2)
Blocks: Lily Courier (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) (2), Gabrielle Hoover (Mishawaka, Ind./La Lumiere) (2)

RECORDS
Lewis 16-8 (15-3 GLVC) | Quincy 9-16 (8-11 GLVC)

SUMMARY
Quincy jumped out to a 12-0 lead early as Lewis went 0/4 from the field to start the game with two turnovers during the run as well. Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill.) finally got the Flyers on the board with a jumper but the Hawks kept flying offensively, scoring 20 points in the first 5:06 to take a 20-6 lead.

Then, Lewis got going with an 11-0 run behind six points from Hilber to get back to within three, 20-17. Quincy finished the first frame strong and led, 25-19, after 10 minutes, going 9/15 (.600) from the field and 5/8 (.625) from three-point range.

The Hawks scored first in the second quarter as both sides traded baskets early in the period. Later, the Flyers went on an 8-2 run on 2/2 shooting from the field and four free throws to get within two, 36-34.

Quincy made two shots, a three from Hilber made it 40-37 in favor of the Hawks at halftime. The Lewis defense held Quincy to 7/19 (.368) from the field in the quarter, but the Hawks collected seven offensive rebounds.

Gugliuzza made a layup for the first points of the second half, but Quincy then knocked down four free throws to restore the lead to five points, 44-39. After trading baskets, a 7-2 push by the Hawks put its lead at 53-45.

The Flyers answered with a 9-2 run behind five points from Schmidt, who finished the run with a deep ball to bring Lewis within one point, 55-54. The Flyers were able to get the score tied, 58-58, heading into the fourth quarter.

Lewis took its first lead of the game after Gugliuzza hit a big three-pointer to open the final frame. Quincy started the fourth 0/5 from the field and Gugliuzza cashed in a layup to put the Flyers up 63-58.

The Hawks answered with a three-pointer and then both offenses went quiet again until Schmidt hit a three to restore the lead to five points at the 5:16 mark. Neither team would make another field goal for over four minutes, until Quincy took a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to 67-66 with 35 seconds remaining.

Schmidt went 5/6 at the free-throw line down the stretch, with Hilber and Badali also knocking down two free throws each to seal the 76-70 victory.

UP NEXT
Lewis women's basketball comes home for a matchup with Rockhurst Thursday (Feb. 22) at 5:30 p.m. CT as the Flyers begin the last two weeks of the regular season.