Defensive intensity carries QU women to first GLVC road victory in two years

LIBERTY, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team maintained the defensive intensity that resulted in William Jewell not scoring in the game’s first five minutes all the way to the final minute of regulation.

It’s why the Hawks headed home with a significant and lopsided road victory.

QU opened on an 8-0 run, limited the Cardinals to seven points in the first quarter and steamrolled its way to a 69-38 victory Saturday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at the Mabee Center. It ended an 18-game road losing streak, dating back to a 12-point victory at William Jewell on Jan. 4, 2020.

This also was the Hawks’ most lopsided victory in GLVC play since beating Drury 96-60 on Jan. 19, 2012.

Top top it off, this was the first conference victory for first-year QU coach Kaci Bailey.

Coming off back-to-back losses and playing their third game in five days, the Hawks (5-8, 1-4 GLVC) outscored the Cardinals 8-0 in the first five minutes, getting three consecutive baskets at the rim. Quincy led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter after limiting William Jewell to 3-of-11 shooting from the field and 0 of 6 from 3-point range.

Overall, the Cardinals shot 28.8 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from 3-point range while committing 17 turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Hawks went 13 of 17 from the line and had 12 assists against just 11 turnovers. Regan Loconte led the Hawks with 14 points, while Grace Flanagan had 12 points, Beth Matas Martin scored 11 and Emme Knipe finished with 10. Sarah Nelson had nine points and nine rebounds.