ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The No. 14 Lewis University women's basketball team suffered a 73-59 setback against No. 5 seed Maryville in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Semifinals Saturday (March 8). The Flyers await the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 9:30 p.m. CT. In the latest, regional rankings, the Flyers were ranked fourth in the Midwest Region with Grand Valley State being the top ranked school. 

TEAM RECORDS
Maryville 16-14 | Lewis 26-3

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Taylor Gugliuzza (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) (18), Cierra McNamee (Moline, Ill./Illinois Central College) (14), Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (11)
Rebounds: Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) (7), Gugliuzza (7)
Assists: Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) (3)
Steals: Cesarini (2)
Blocks: Cesarini (1), Gugliuzza (1)

GAME SUMMARY
Maryville led 9-8 in the early stages of the first quarter after a layup from Cesarini. The Saints responded right back with back-to-back three-pointers, giving them a 15-8 advantage with 4:43 to play.

Lewis got right back in the contest after scoring six straight points to cut the Maryville deficit to one with three minutes to play in the quarter. The Saints knocked down the ensuing three-pointer with 2:46 remaining, but the Flyers were able to keep the Saints off the scoreboard the rest of the first quarter.

Badali gave Lewis its first lead of the game after making the first basket of the second quarter. Both teams traded field goals before the Saints strung together two straight for a 25-21 advantage. 

Moments later, McNamee kept it a four-point contest with 3:06 remaining before the break. The Saints proceeded to score nine straight points in the next three minutes, giving them a 38-25 lead.

Gugliuzza looked to give Lewis momentum going into the break after converting on an old-fashioned three-point play with six seconds remaining. Maryville went into the break ahead 38-28.

Maryville opened the second half with a bucket then Lewis was able to bounce back with two straight from McNamee and Gugliuzza to make it single digits. The Saints knocked down a three-pointer to stretch it back over double digits. 

The Saints maintained a double digit lead throughout most of the third quarter, going into the fourth ahead 57-45.

Lewis looked to get back in the contest after a basket from Gugliuzza and a three-pointer from Badali made it a seven-point game with nine minutes to play. The closest Lewis got was six points on a few occasions after baskets from Gugliuzza and Badali.

Maryville stretched its lead back out to double digits and held onto it the rest of the way. The Saints won the game 73-59 and they are moving on to tomorrow's GLVC Championship Game.

UP NEXT
Lewis turns its attention to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 9:30 p.m. CT on www.ncaa.com to see where the team is headed.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to join us Wednesday, March 26 as we induct our newest inductees of the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Flyer Red Dinner at Bolingbrook Golf Club starting at 6 p.m. CT. Purchase tickets at https://lewisflyers.com/2025FlyerRedDinner

50 YEARS OF WOMEN'S ATHLETICS
Lewis University is also organizing several alumni and family events throughout the women's athletic seasons to commemorate this historic milestone. These special gatherings will provide an opportunity for former athletes, families, and supporters to reconnect and celebrate the achievements of women's sports at Lewis. The scheduled events include:

• Women's Tennis Alumni/Family Event – April 19
• Women's Lacrosse Alumni/Family Event – April 25
• Women's Softball Alumni/Family Event – April 26
• Women's Track Alumni Day – May 3

FLYERS ANNUAL FUND
Support the Flyers by making a gift to the Flyers Athletics Fund at https://lewisflyers.com/202425AnnualFund