Hawks keep momentum rolling into holiday break with first road victory of season

WESTVILLE, Ind. — The Quincy University women’s basketball players are taking some good vibes home for the holidays.

Scoring their first victory of the season against an NCAA Division II program on the road certainly makes it easier to celebrate.

The Hawks led from start to finish Monday, extending the advantage over Purdue Northwest to as many as 17 points in the third quarter and never getting threatened in the fourth quarter of a 71-62 victory at Kesling Gym.

Quincy goes into the NCAA-mandated seven-day break with a 4-6 record, having won three in a row and four of its last six games. Monday’s victory was the first road win of the season.

The Hawks jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the game’s first three minutes and used back-to-back 3-pointers by Grace Flanagan off Maddie Spagnola assists in the final minute of the first quarter to take a 19-12 lead. The advantage grew to as many as 12 points in the second quarter before the Pride trimmed the deficit to 36-31 at halftime.

A 13-0 run in the third quarter featuring six points from Regan Loconte gave the Hawks control for good.

Sarah Nelson led QU with 15 points, while Flanagan had 12 points, going 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Loconte added 11 points, and point guard Beth Matas Martin had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The Hawks are off until returning to Great Lakes Valley Conference action January 2 at Maryville.