Lantz, Hawks’ top returning scorer, leaves women’s basketball program

QUINCY — With a myriad of life changes looming, Laney Lantz decided to devote her time and efforts to her family and her future.

That meant walking away from basketball.

Lantz informed Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey this week she was leaving the program. The junior guard was expected to be a starter and vital offensive piece for the Hawks, who open their first season under Bailey on November 12 against Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

However, Lantz recently got engaged, has been accepted to pharmacy school and told Bailey she needs to focus on those aspects of her life.

“We support her decision to do what’s best for her,” Bailey said.

An all-state guard at Central-Southeastern who scored more than 2,000 career points in high school, Lantz was the Hawks’ leading scorer each of the past two seasons. As a true freshman in 2019-20, she averaged 11.3 points and shot 85.8 percent from the free-throw line.

As a sophomore in 2020-21, Lantz averaged 16.9 points, shot 45 percent from the field and 87.1 percent from the line. She was a third-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection, making her the first QU player to receive postseason accolades since 2018.

Junior forward Sarah Nelson, who averaged 12.3 points last season, is the Hawks’ only returnee who averaged in double figures.