ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Lewis University women's basketball team beat the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats Thursday 71-57.
TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 14-2, 8-1 GLVC | Southwest Baptist 7-9, 5-5 GLVC
LEWIS LEADERS vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
Points: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (23),
Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) (14)
Rebounds: Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (6)
Assists: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (8)
Steals: Badali (2),
Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill./Illinois Central College) (2),
Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (2)
Blocks: Badali (1)
Head Coach Keisha Newell on the win:
"This was a great bounce back game for us. I thought our defense in the first half was phenomenal. We shared the ball really well and Taylor had a great overall game. We are looking forward to another challenge on Saturday."
GAME SUMMARY
Following only their second loss of the season, The Lewis University women's basketball team struck back with a vengeance in the first half against Southwest Baptist, outscoring the Bearcats 20-9 in both the first and second quarter.
The game began with a McNamee layup to give their first lead of the match. The Bearcats would tie the game on a layup the next trip down the floor only to be followed up by a Cesarini layup. Gugliuzza would go perfect on a trip to the free throw line and the Bearcats would put up a layup and a three to take their first lead of the night at 7-6. This would mark the only time the Bearcats would be ahead for the remainder of the game thanks to a layup from Gugliuzza and a layup by
Kree Nunnally (Crystal Lake, Ill./Example Academy) to go up 12-9.
McNamee would hit a jumper from inside the painted rectangle and three straight free throws from McNamee and Badali would make it a 17-9 game. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Gugliuzza would catch a pass from Cesarini and throw up a three to give Lewis a 20-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
Lewis would have another offensive heavy quarter in the second started by three straight layups by Gugliuzza,
Gabi Hoover (Mishawaka, Ind./La Lumiere) and Cesarini. Hoover would pull down an offensive board and throw a shot backup for two. Gugliuzza would hit a layup of the McNamee assist to give the Flyers a 30-13 lead. The final few minutes of the half saw Badali and Cesarini hit threes, with Cesarini's being with 7 seconds left in the half.
Out of halftime, the third and fourth quarters saw the Bearcats outscore the Flyers but the 40-18 deficit was too large for Southwest Baptist to overcome. Lewis only scored twelve in the third quarter with a layups by Badali, McNamee and Gugliuzza. Gugliuzza would shoot a perfect five for five from the free throw line in the third to keep the Lewis lead active.
Lewis scored 19 in the fourth quarter and saw a few players step in from off the bench. Hoover and Cesarini scored the first two layups of the quarter for the Flyers.
Sammi Campanelli (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) off the bench would offer up a layup for Lewis. Gugliuzza would continue to aid in the offensive endeavors for the Flyers as Lewis crossed the 60 point mark. A handful of free throws and a three by
Jasmine Jones (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) pushed Lewis towards the finish line only to be capped off by one more Gugliuzza three. The Lewis Flyers walk away with a 71-57 victory.
UP NEXT
The Flyers return to Neil Carey Arena on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 1:00 p.m. as they take on Rockhurst Univeristy
UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to join us Saturday, February 8 as we induct our newest members of the Academy of Coaches at halftime of the women's basketball game against Lincoln.
FLYERS ANNUAL FUND
Support the Flyers by making a gift to the Flyers Athletics Fund at
https://lewisflyers.com/202425AnnualFund
