PARKSIDE 82, LEWIS 63
Alyssa Nelson's career-high 24 points helped the Parkside women's basketball team to an 82-63 home win over former GLVC foe Lewis on Wednesday night. Head coach Jen Conely snapped Parkside's 10-game skid against the Flyers in her first matchup against Lewis. Parkside, who improved to 4-6 overall with the win, will host Purdue Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 21 in its GLIAC home opener at 1 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first quarter, it was tied 2-2 with 7:32 to play, but the Rangers got hot fast, outscoring the Flyers 27-9 the rest of the quarter to take a 29-11 lead after one. During the hot stretch, Parkside got triples from Maddy Harrison, Taylor Stephen, Alyssa Nelson and Courtney Schoenbeck. In the second quarter, Parkside pushed its lead to 20, but the Flyers ended the quarter on a 14-5 run, resulting in a 39-28 Rangers' lead at the break.
 
The second half was back-and-forth, with Lewis using a 9-0 run to climb back and tie the game at 54-54 late in the third quarter. Nelson drilled a 3-pointer to stop the run and the Rangers took a 59-54 advantage into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Parkside put their foot on the gas, pushing the lead to 14 with just 5:00 to play thanks in large to the play of Nelson, who had 16 points in the second half.
 
STATWORTHY
Nelson shot 10-of-16 from the floor and went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Stephen finished with 18 points and nine assists while Carolina Rahkonen had 12 points. Aina Cabrero Siñol added nine points off the bench.
 
As a team, Parkside shot 53.2-percent from the floor while holding the Flyers to 34.3-percent and just 3-of-21 from long range.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Parkside welcomes in Purdue Northwest for its GLIAC home opener on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. Between the women's and men's game, Santa Claus will be available for pictures. Following Saturday, the Rangers have a long break until they head to Midland, Mich., for a battle against Northwood on Thursday, Jan. 2.