SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two very difficult first-round draws resulted in successful seasons coming to an end for Walsh and Kentucky Wesleyan women’s hoops in the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional on Friday. 
 
Walsh, the No. 7 seed, fell to No. 2 and 20th nationally-ranked Lewis by a score of 86-71 and eighth-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan fell to top seed and the country’s No. 1-ranked team Drury, 88-57.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan finished 24-8 overall and Walsh closed the books on the 2018-19 season with a record of 25-7. 
 
In the early game at the O’Reilly Center, it was the Jessica Kelliher show as the senior forward from Lewis had a monster game with 39 points and 15 rebounds on 14-of-17 shooting. 
 
The Cavaliers countered with one of the best players from the region as Sha Carter scored 21. 
 
Walsh kept very close in the first half, staying within striking distance with a four-point deficit after Jamie Halloran made a three right before the halftime horn. But as like many of the Flyers’ opponents have found out the hard way, Kelliher is a force and tough to stop down low.
 
Tyler Newkirk and Brittni Clopton each reached double-digit scoring for the Cavaliers, who entered their first national tournament appearance on a 12-game win streak. 
 
The Cavaliers are still a very young program loaded with underclassmen that will continue to learn from this experience and build on its current successes.
 
In a similar boat is Kentucky Wesleyan, who secured an at-large selection on a nerve-wracking Selection Sunday. The Panthers went up a different Panthers in Drury, an undefeated team that was looking for its 32nd consecutive victory of the year. 
 
Drury pressed non-stop for the duration of the game and the nation’s team leader in turnovers forced lived up to it billing. KWC committed 25, and ultimately faced a 25-point deficit going into the break.
 
Three different players would score 10 or more points, including Kaylee Clifford, Jasmine Shelt and Keelie Lamb.