USI (17-7, 13-5 GLVC) overcame a dismal first-half shooting performance to tie the game at 45 early in the fourth quarter, but a quick 9-2 run had the Eagles playing catch up once again.

The Eagles, who trailed by 12 at the intermission, got back to within five points (63-58) with just under three-and-a-half minutes to play; but the Flyers scored 11 straight points to end the contest.

USI, which saw its season-high six-game win streak come to a close, fell behind early in the contest as a 3-for-14 (.214) shooting performance in the opening period led to a 15-6 deficit heading into the second quarter.

The Eagles were 5-of-16 from the field in the second half, but a pair of 5-0 Lewis runs put the Flyers in front, 28-14.

Senior guard Ashley Johnson got a bucket at the end of the half to cut Lewis’s lead to 28-16 at the break; then erupted for 12 third-quarter points as USI cut the deficit to just four points (44-40) heading into the fourth quarter.

Johnson, who had a team-high 21 points, scored five straight points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter as USI tied the score at 45-45.

Lewis, however, got a three-pointer from freshman guard Grace Hilber and, following a layup by USI junior guard Emma DeHart, a three-point play from senior forward Rachel Hinders.

Senior forward Katie Gardner’s three-pointer with just under eight minutes to play put the Flyers up, 54-47, and in the driver’s seat for the remainder of the contest.

In addition to Johnson, the Eagles got 15 points and six rebounds from freshman forward Hannah Haithcock, while DeHart finished with eight points. Sophomore forward Ashlynn Brown had five points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Eagles, who shot just 34.8 percent (23-66) from the field and 18.8 percent (3-16) from three-point range.

Hinders had 22 points and eight rebounds to lead the Flyers, who went 6-of-7 (.857) from the field, 5-of-5 (1.000) from three-point range and 13-of-17 (.765) from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes.

USI, which was in its pink uniforms for its Play4Kay game, returns to action Thursday at 4:45 p.m. (CST) when it visits arch-rival Bellarmine University for the final time in GLVC play. The Eagles conclude the regular season next Saturday when they host the University of Indianapolis for Senior Day.