ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- Another addition to the win column for the Lewis University women's basketball team on Thursday came down to the wire after a hard fought battle between the two GLVC opponents.
TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 12-1, 6-0 GLVC | Upper Iowa 6-6, 3-3 GLVC
LEWIS LEADERS vs. Upper Iowa
Points: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (19),
Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) (15)
Rebounds: Gabrielle Hoover (6)
Assists: Badali (6)
Steals: Cesarini (4)
Head Coach Keisha Newell on the Victory:
"Tonight we got the win and I'm proud of that, but we all know we didn't play our best basketball. Good teams find ways to win even when things aren't clicking and that's what we did."
GAME SUMMARY
Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill./Illinois Central College) started the scoring for Lewis with a layup on the first offensive possession for the Flyers. The Peacocks turned around and hit a three off some good ball movement to quickly score and take the lead for the first time. Lewis had three straight turnovers on offensive possessions but it was inevitably stopped thanks to a fast break layup by
Yahaira Bueno (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook).
The two squads traded three points to bring the game to a 9-6 score, which was extended by Lewis with another McNamee layup. there were many missed shots and opportunities by both squads throughout the first quarter. A dry run was cut by a Badali steal and assist to a Cesarini corner three. Five points followed a three gave Lewis a 19-10 lead at the end of the one.
Upper Iowa came into the second quarter with a vengeance, outscoring the Flyers 18-14. Badali scored the first second quarter points nearly three minutes in off a three with the assist from Hoover. Lewis gathered themselves and had a good rhythm for a bit with a three pointer by Badali, layup by Cesarini, jumper by Hoover and two free throws by Badali to give themselves a good cushion heading into half. The Flyers rattled off a few more points but eventually took a 33-28 lead into the locker room.
Both Lewis and Upper Iowa came out for the second half cold, between the two squads only five points were scored in roughly the first five minutes and all five were in favor of the Peacocks. The Flyers were able to turn it on and gave themselves six points with free throws by Badali and Cesarini and a three from Badali as well.
Hoover joined the third quarter scoring with a straight away three off the assist from Badali. The Flyers threw up a few more shots in the final two minutes,
Tara Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) and Cesarini landing a few of them, to head into the fourth quarter with a 45-41 lead.
The back and forth game was capped off by a high scoring quarter for both teams. Badali on her game leading scorer night started the fourth with a jump shot in the paint to give Lewis a six point lead. After a few mirrored scoring drives, Upper Iowa hit a three to tie the game at 51. Hoover two possessions later would hit a three to give Lewis the advantage back.
Another long dry spell of scoring for the Flyers was ended with two free throws from Gugliuzza which tied the game at 58. The Peacocks would hit a jumper to go up by two, only for Cesarini to follow suit tying the game again.
Both team traded a layup which locked the game at 62 with less than 40 seconds to go. Cesarini caught the ball at the top of the key, with Upper Iowa's defense spread around the perimeter.
She drove to the basket, euro stepped her way around the last defending camped at the free throw line and laced on the go ahead bucket, and final point of the game. The Peacocks threw up many shots at the end of the game but could not get any to fall. Lewis walked away with their closest win of the season with a score of 64-62.
Thursday nights game also acted as Rae Strong Night. The Rae Strong Foundation is a non-profit organization based in the Chicago land area whose goal is to support families dealing with premature born children. For more information,
Watch this Video.
UP NEXT
The Flyers travel to Liberty, Missouri to take on William Jewell Thursday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m.
