QU women unable to extend win streak, let game slip away in final two minutes

LEBANON, Ill. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team has yet to reach February, and already the Hawks have matched the most victories they’ve enjoyed in the last seven seasons.

Still, there is another significant step needed in their evolution.

The Hawks must sustain success. It eluded them Thursday night.

Chasing just the second three-game win streak since the start of the 2016-17 season, Quincy wobbled in the closing minutes, seeing a one-point lead with 1:35 to play morph into a 63-60 loss to McKendree in Great Lakes Valley Conference at the Harry Statham Sports Center.

The last time the Hawks won three games in a row was in November 2018 with victories over Missouri Western, Hannibal-LaGrange and William Jewell. Quincy went 2-18 the remainder of the 2018-19 season.

This was the second time this season and fourth time in Kaci Bailey’s two seasons at the helm the Hawks have won back-to-back games but failed to make it three in a row.

The Hawks (9-11, 5-7 GLVC) went ahead 58-57 with 1:52 remaining after Cymirah Williams missed on a putback of a Beth Matas Martin miss but corralled her own rebound and made good on her second second-chance opportunity. The Bearcats (8-10, 5-6 GLVC) answered with Naomi McDaniel driving into the middle of the lane, spinning back to the baseline and laying in the field goal for a 59-58 edge with 1:35 to play. 

QU’s Grace Flanagan missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, and the Hawks appeared to force a Bearcats turnover when the ball squirted into the backcourt and appeared to get tied up for a jump ball. However, McKendree called and was awarded a timeout.

Quincy’s Gabi Burns, who was on the floor battling for the loose ball, smacked the floor several times with both hands in front of one of the officials and was hit with a technical foul.

McKendree’s Clare Breden made both free throws with 57 seconds left, and the Bearcats’ Erin Golden made two more with 24 seconds to play to provide a cushion.

Matas Martin led the Hawks with 16 points and four assists, while Williams had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Quincy committed 19 turnovers and managed just 13 second-chance points on 18 offensive rebounds. McDaniel led the Bearcats with 12 points.