ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Fresh off of a win over a ranked team on Tuesday, the Lewis Flyers took down another team in the top 25 as they defeated fourth-ranked Drury 87-79 on Thursday in Romeoville, Illinois.
The Flyers won their sixth-straight game and improved to 11-12 and 9-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Lady Panthers fell to 24-4 and 14-3 in the league.
Lewis, who on Tuesday toppled 18th ranked Missouri-St. Louis 70-60, never trailed and led by as much as 18 in the second quarter before settling for a 45-34 lead at halftime.
Drury cut the margin to two with 4:51 remaining but could never gain the lead, and the Flyers hit free throws down the stretch to keep the Lady Panthers at bay.
Lewis shot 59 percent from the field, hitting 32 of 54 shots, including 6 of their 14 three-point attempts. Their 87 points are the most the Lady Panthers have given up in a game since Nov. 14, 2017, when they lost at Southwest Baptist 93-82.
“We were bad today, and we played today as we’ve practiced for the last two days,” said Drury head coach Amy Eagan. “We didn’t show up to defend. For a group that only gives up 62 points a game and is one of the best defensive teams in the nation to then give up 87…it’s disappointing.”
Grace Hilber led Lewis with 24 points while Lily Courier added 23.
Paige Robinson paced Drury with 29 points in her third game back after missing nearly two months with an injured hand and wrist. She hit a three-pointer in the first half to tie Drury’s all-time record for career three-pointers with Katie Pritchard (2008-12), but ended the game 1 for 9 from three-point range, and the Lady Panthers went just 3 for 21 from behind in the arc in the game.
Kaylee DaMitz added 19 points, three assists, and three steals for the Lady Panthers.
Drury travels to Indianapolis on Saturday for a game starting at noon (CST) at UIndy.
