EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's women's basketball team survived a hard fought game to advance to the semifinal round of the GLVC Tournament with a 71-61 win over Truman State on Thursday afternoon at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill. The Flyers (23-6) shot 50 percent (15-for-30) from the floor in the second half for the win.

"We told the girls that you're going to get everyone's best shot this time of year," head coach Samantha Quigley Smith said. "Everyone is going to play their best basketball and bring energy. No one is going to roll over.

"We came out in the second half with more energy on the defensive end. We were able to get stops and got things going in transition," Quigley Smith said. "Tierney Lockett (Richton Park, Ill./Rich South) had a great second half giving us scoring from the guard position which opened up things for Jess (Kelliher) to get a few more touches underneath."  

Lewis struggled on the offensive end in the opening quarter shooting only 33 percent (4-for-12) from the field and turned the ball over six times but only trailed 11-10 at the end of the quarter. Jessica Kelliher (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) had four points while Gabby Green (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) and Rachel Hinders (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) added three each.

The Flyers opened the second quarter on a 7-0 getting a three from Reilly Olmstead (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) to regain the lead and baskets from Green and Kelliher to lead 17-11 2:27 into the frame. The Bulldogs (15-11) responded with a 6-1 run to regain the lead at 20-17 after a three from Remy Davenport. Lewis closed the half on a 9-3 run highlighted by Kelliher's old fashioned three-point play to take a 26-23 lead into halftime.

Truman scored the first four points of the third quarter but the Flyers countered with an 8-2 run to take a 37-29 lead after a jumper from Morgan Glatczak (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) nearly midway through the quarter. The Bulldogs got hot from the perimeter hitting 3 three's in the span of 2:30 to regain the lead at 40-38. Dajae Black (Chicago, Ill./Marist) tied the game with a jumper in the paint and then Lockett hit a three in the closing seconds of the stanza to give Lewis a 43-42 lead after three quarters.

The Flyers began to pull away thanks to an 8-3 run midway through the final frame building an eight-point cushion after a pair of free throws from Kelliher with 4:25 to go. The Bulldogs cut the lead to five a couple of times but Lewis got the job done at the foul line making six of its last nine at the foul line to close out the win.

Kelliher led all scorers with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Lockett added 15, all in the second half, while Green finished with 10. The Flyers finished the game shooting 44 percent (25-for-57) from the floor, was 4-for-9 from three and shot 68 percent at the foul line. Lewis had 17 assists against 12 turnovers.

Katie Jaseckas, the GLVC's Freshman of the Year, led Truman State with 16 points while Rachel Edmundson added 11 off the bench. The 'Dogs shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the field, went 5-for-14 from three and shot 74 percent at the foul line. They outrebounded the Flyers 36-to-33.

Lewis will take on Southern Indiana in the semifinal round of the GLVC Tournament on Saturday afternoon beginning at 12 p.m. The Screaming Eagles defeated William Jewell 64-54 in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday.