Blistering start, executing game plan carries QU women’s basketball team to sixth straight victory

QUINCY — As much as Quincy University women’s basketball coach Courtney Boyd wants the Hawks to be cognizant of the game plan and the situations it creates, she wants them to enjoy the moment as well.

She reminded them of that as the second half of their sixth straight victory unfolded Monday night.

“Toward the end of the game, I looked at them and was like, ‘Guys, how many are we up? What’s the math’” Boyd said. “They said 14. So I was like, ‘Then play like you’re up 14. Have a little fun. Bring a little energy.’”

Above all else, enjoy what sticking to the game plan creates.

The Hawks got off to a blistering start — they shot 52 percent from the field and scored 24 points in the first quarter — and took Missouri-St. Louis’ shooters completely out of the mix in earning a 64-53 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Pepsi Arena.

“When we tell them it’s a big game, they’re like, ‘Yeah, Coach always says that,’” Boyd said. “But they are starting to figure out we can be OK, we can be decent if we stick to the game plan. If we don’t stick to the game plan, every game is tough. So that was really good to see in the locker room tonight.”

It also was good for Boyd to see the Hawks handle adversity.

An issue with the shot clock resulted in a team technical foul on QU and UMSL shooting a single free throw before the opening tip, putting the Hawks behind before a second had ticked away. Quincy responded accordingly, winning the opening tip and scoring on a Cymirah Williams runner.

In fact, the Hawks (12-5, 6-2 GLVC) made their first five shots and never trailed again.

“I told them, ‘This is the last time they’re going to have the lead because that’s how hard we’re going to play tonight,’” Boyd said of the opening technical foul. “Sure enough, for 39 minutes and 50-some seconds, that’s the only time they had the lead.

“Getting off to a strong start is a big thing for our team moving forward. If we do have a lapse, we do have a little bit of wiggle room.”

Nicole McDermott led the Hawks with 22 points, while Mariann Blass scored 11 points. Chomp Danso finished with 10 rebounds. Alex Wolff led UMSL (13-4, 7-3 GLVC) with 14 points, while Katie Rolfes went 0 of 9 from the field and 0 of 6 from 3-point range.