Defense, rebounding carry QU women’s basketball team to another GLVC victory

ST. LOUIS — Two important statistical categories explain why the Quincy University women’s basketball team has won three of its last four games and remains undefeated on the road this season.

Shooting percentage and rebounding.

In the three victories, including beating Maryville 63-55 on Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Moloney Arena, the Hawks have held their opponents to 37-percent or worse shooting from the field. At the same time, they’ve outrebounded their opponents by an average of 16 boards per game.

Should that trend continue over the final four games of December, the Hawks will celebrate a merry Christmas.

Saturday’s effort on the glass was as dominant as any.

Quincy (3-5, 3-1 GLVC) outrebounded Maryville 51-31 and allowed just seven offensive rebounds and six second-chance points. Clearing the defensive glass was critical as the Saints shot just 35 percent from the field and made only 2 of 15 3-pointers.

The Hawks shot 40 percent from the field overall, but they knocked down 55 percent of their shots from inside 15 feet. The power in the paint proved critical as junior forward Cymirah Williams finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds and sophomore forward Chomp Danso had 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Mikayla Huffine added 11 points for Quincy.