ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) led the Lewis University women's basketball team to a 78-67 win over Rockhurst with a career high 34 points and 11 rebounds Saturday (Jan. 25). 

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 15-2, 9-1 GLVC | Rockhurst 5-12, 3-8 GLVC
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. ROCKHURST
Points: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (34)
Rebounds: Gugliuzza (11)
Assists: Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) (4)
Steals: Taylor and Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (2)
Blocks: Gabi Hoover (Mishawaka, Ind./La Lumiere) (3)

Head Coach Keisha Newell on the win:
"It was great to pull out two home conference wins. I am proud of our entire team for bouncing back. Taylor was unbelievable today again. We are excited to continue to grow and develop with these last few weeks of conference play."

GAME SUMMARY
In a career game for Gugliuzza, in which she led in points and rebounds, Gugliuzza started the game with a rebound off of a missed shot and a put back for the first basket off the game. Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) followed up on the next possession and threw down a three.

Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill./Illinois Central College) would travel down next and execute the old school three point play with a layup and the trip to the free throw line. Gugliuzza would travel back down the floor for a layup and a one of two trip to the line to give Lewis an 11-0 lead. Rockhurst was able to steadily recover but the Flyers would end the first quarter leading 15-8. 

Badali began the second with a two points from the bread line, only to be followed by a short pause in scoring by Lewis. Eventually the calm was broken up by Kree Nunnally (Crystal Lake, Ill./Example Academy) with a beautiful handle and mid range jumper. The next trip down the floor was concluded with a Gugliuzza three. 

Nunnally saw another mid range shot fall and had a layup a few possessions later continuing to contribute off the bench. Jasmine Jones (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) capped off the second quarter with a rebound and jumper on the other end to give Lewis a 31-23 lead at halftime. 

Rockhurst began the second half with a few points, finally the second half scoring for Lewis was started by Cesarini with a layup from a pass by Gugliuzza would hit three free throws the next few trips down the lane. Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) would join her sister in the scoring column with a three. Taylor would then go to the free throw line after a basket.

It was a game of free throws for both squads, 55 total attempts throughout the contest. The final eight points of the third quarter for the Flyers came from the free throw line with more to come in the fourth. 

Badali and Gugliuzza began the fourth with a layup and three to put the Flyers up by 8. Gugliuzza would come down a few possessions later and make it a ten point lead with the layup. Gugliuzza would continue to dominate offensively with a another three, only to be followed by a McNamee layup to make it a 15 point Flyer lead. 

Hoover would step back beyond the arc to lay down a bucket followed by another dip in scoring for both teams. Gugliuzza in the fourth quarter would see her self break her career high with a few more threes and layups. The Flyers would wrap things up as Rockhurst began to foul out of the game and send players to the free throw lines. The Flyers walk away with another conference win with a 78-67 victory. 

UP NEXT
The Flyers head to Rolla, Missouri to take on Missouri S&T on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. 

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