SAINT CHARLES, Mo. – The top-seeded Lewis Flyers avenged their only conference loss by defeating the #8-seed Truman State Bulldogs 77-61 in the quarterfinal round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference postseason tournament.
Lewis started strong, building a 17-5 lead in the first quarter behind a balanced attack led by Taylor Gugliuzza, who scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the opening frame. The Flyers shot an impressive 9-for-15 from the field in the period, including three 3-pointers. Truman State responded late in the quarter, cutting the deficit to 23-18 with a buzzer-beating layup from Molly Joyce.
The Bulldogs carried their momentum into the second quarter, erasing the deficit and briefly taking a 24-23 lead on a 3-pointer from Emma Bulman. Truman State's defense tightened, forcing six Lewis turnovers, while Bulman heated up with two more 3-pointers to give her team a 32-29 edge. However, Lewis closed the half on an 8-2 run, sparked by a Jenna Badali 3-pointer, to take a slim 37-34 lead into the break.
The third quarter proved pivotal as Lewis regained control. Cierra McNamee and Gugliuzza dominated inside, combining for 10 points in the paint, while Badali added a 3-pointer to push the Flyers' lead to 59-52. Truman State hung tough, with Joyce and Tori Standefer contributing key baskets, but Lewis's 9-for-16 shooting and stifling defense limited the Bulldogs' opportunities.
The Flyers sealed the game in the fourth quarter, opening with a 12-0 run over the first six minutes. Gugliuzza and Ally Cesarini powered the surge with fast-break layups, while Truman State managed just one point—a free throw from Bulman—during that stretch. The Bulldogs mounted a late rally, with Bulman finishing a fast-break layup to cut the deficit to 16, but Lewis's lead was insurmountable. Mercy Lasu capped the scoring with a layup in the final minute, securing the 77-61 final.
Emma Bulman sank her first four three-point attempts and finished with a career-high 20 points in her final game as a Bulldog. Molly Joyce added 16 points, while the team's leading scorer, Jordan Cunningham, was held to just three free throws.
Truman State ends their season with a record of 14-17.
