Feb. 26, 2004

Box Score

QUINCY, Ill. - When Quincy and Lewis met earlier this season in Romeoville the game was for sole possession of first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. A month and eight games later, the rematch in Quincy was for the Hawks' chance to win the league title outright.

Two games up on the league with two games to play, a Quincy victory would hand the Hawks their first-ever women's basketball GLVC title. Lewis attempted to delay that celebration, but fell short in its upset bid of the No. 14-ranked team in the nation. The Flyers (15-11, 12-7 GLVC) lost a defensive struggle 58-48 to the conference champions.

The teams partook in a war of attrition during a first half that saw Quincy edge out to a 24-22 lead at the break. Lewis trailed 10-4 early in the half before utilizing a burst that has become a trademark for the team. The Flyers went on a 16-4 run over a seven-minute span that saw them reverse the six-point deficit to a 20-14 lead. Kim Harris provided three 3-pointers during the run, including one that tied the game at 12-all and a second that gave Lewis a 15-14 lead.

The Flyers were unable to extend the lead going into the half as Quincy (22-4, 16-3 GLVC) limited Lewis to just two points over the final 6:14 of the half.

Tenesha McDaniel tied the game for the last time at 26-all. The Hawks proceeded to outscore Lewis 25-11 over the next 12 minutes to decide the game. The most critical stretch came when LU was held to just three free throws over a six-and-a-half-minute stretch from 14:19 to 6:35. The Hawks were able to extend a 37-34 lead to 51-37 and essentially clinch the game.

Harris' team-high nine point marked the first time all season that Lewis' high scorer failed to score at least 10 points. Harris was 3-for-3 from the field with all three of her baskets coming from beyond the 3-point arc. McDaniel and Tracy Buchholz each chipped in with eights points. Bryanne Callahan had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Quincy was led by Courtney Vonderhaar's double double. The 6-2 center tallied game-highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Lisa Farrell added 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals to aid the Hawks' cause.

Lewis will conclude its regular season with a 1 p.m. game at SIU Edwardsville on Saturday. A Flyer victory assures the team of a fourth-place finish in the league and will leave them no lower than No. 5 in the GLVC Tournament seedings.

The Flyers were not highly regarded by the GLVC Coaches in the preseason poll as the league picked Lewis to finish ninth. Placing fourth presents a nice note on which to end the regular season. It also helps showcase the tremendous turnaround season the team has produced.

2/26/04