ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell 75-60 to Lewis on Thursday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Neil Carey Arena.

Senior forward Beth Bowers paced Bellarmine (7-7, 2-3 GLVC) with 12 points. In the first start of her collegiate career, freshman forward Lauren Deel posted 11 points with four rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Jessica Kelliher, the nation's leading scorer, poured in 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting for Lewis (12-4, 5-1), which has won five straight. Rachel Hinders added 13 points as the Flyers shot 58.5 percent for the game and limited Bellarmine to 34.3 percent.

Behind Kelliher, GLVC East leader Lewis had a 52-28 advantage in points in the paint. The Flyers' shooting never truly cooled off as 47.1 percent was their "worst" quarter from the floor.

Lewis set the tone in the first quarter by sinking eight of its 10 shots in building a 21-13 lead. The Flyers took a 42-27 advantage into halftime as Kelliher scored 17 first-half points on 7-for-8 shooting.

Bellarmine had some nice spurts in the second half, but Lewis answered each time. The Flyers led by as many as 23 in the second half and never allowed their lead to dip below 13.

Bellarmine plays at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Wisconsin-Parkside.

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