Schuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Nebraska assistant coach Jessica Keller discusses NCAA Tournament, coaching ladder, QU roots

QUINCY — The leading scorer in the history of the Quincy University women’s basketball program is headed to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach, and following Nebraska’s effort against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, anything is possible for the Huskers. Jessica Keller is in her second season on the Nebraska coaching…

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Fourth-quarter comeback falls short as JWCC women lose in Region 24 semifinals

John Wood Community College sophomore guard Jada Dupree scored 23 points in Saturday's 83-67 loss to Parkland in the Region 24 tournament semifinals in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The patented second-half comeback was happening yet again. Only this time, it stalled out. The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team trailed top-seeded Parkland 58-39 at the end of the third quarter Saturday in the semifinals of the Region 24 tournament at Lincoln Land Community College. Three minutes later, on the…

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Schuckman: Eftink’s return to court gives JWCC women’s basketball team perfect boost at perfect time

Blair Eftink, Quincy Notre Dame's all-time leading 3-pointer shooter, has been a late-season boon for the John Wood Community College women's basketball team after joining the Trail Blazers in mid-February. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Blair Eftink’s roommate may have hinted at or suggested a time or two the former Quincy Notre Dame sharpshooting guard not give up on her basketball career.  “Or maybe a lot,” Katey Flynn said with a smile and a chuckle. And for good reason. The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team needed…

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Comfort creates confidence for JWCC women during second-half surge in Region 24 victory

John Wood Community College's Katey Flynn, right, throws a pass while being pressured by Illinois Central College's Addi Swadinksy during Wednesday night's Region 24 quarterfinal matchup at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — If the John Wood Community College women’s basketball players could attack the basket at the east end of the Student Activity Center all the time, they truly believe they’d never trail. “This side is our basket,” sophomore point guard Jada Dupree said. “We practice on it every single day. When we go that…

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Photo gallery: JWCC men, women pick up Region 24 quarterfinal victories at home

From left, John Wood Community College's Madi Doran, Grace Deters and Katey Flynn set themselves to play defense during Wednesday night's Region 24 quarterfinal game against Illinois Central College at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams took the first step toward national tournament berths Wednesday night by winning their Region 24 quarterfinal matchups at the Student Activity Center. The third-seeded JWCC men beat Rend Lake 75-61 and will face second-seeded Illinois Central College at 3 p.m. Saturday at Rend…

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Hawks’ Williams posts 10 double-doubles in league play, earns second-team All-GLVC

Quincy University junior forward Cymirah Williams received second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Cymirah Williams’ ability to score, rebound and defend made her one of the more problematic matchup problems in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The numbers prove it. Williams averaged 15.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in conference play, finishing as the league’s third leading rebounder and earning second-team All-GLVC honors as voted on by…

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Crim: With Year 1 done, Boyd’s challenge becomes elevating QU to conference contender

Quincy University women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd led the Hawks to 10 victories in her first season at the helm, but she expects and will strive for better results in the not-so-distant future. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — First-year Quincy University women’s basketball coach Courtney Boyd sat in the conference room down the hall from her office in the Health & Fitness Center and pulled out her cellphone. On the screen was a staff breakdown of the point rating system the Great Lakes Valley Conference uses to determine its eight postseason…

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Trail Blazers go on attack in second half, earn home postseason game by beating Cougars

John Wood Community College's Alexis Pohlman goes up for a shot during the second half of Saturday's victory over Illinois Central College at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A forgettable first half was forgotten quickly. It had to happen for the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team to play at home again. Trailing by eight points at halftime Saturday after shooting just 22.6 percent from the field, the Trail Blazers went on a 17-2 run over the final 6 minutes,…

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Photo gallery: JWCC men and women close regular season with home victories

John Wood Community College teammates Camila Zbynski, left, and Jada Dupree give Katey Flynn a helping hand to get back to her feet during Saturday's game against Illinois Central College at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The home slate didn’t end Saturday for the John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams. By sweeping a Mid-West Athletic Conference doubleheader from Illinois Central College — the JWCC men won 74-59 and the women won 61-52 — both will play host to quarterfinal games in the Region 24 postseason tournament…

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Close but no victory once again for QU women as season ends with another narrow loss

Quincy University junior forward Cymirah Williams scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Saturday's loss to Illinois-Springfield at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team gained plenty of experience playing in close games this season. The next step is learning how to win them. The University of Illinois-Springfield outscored the Hawks 16-11 over the final 1 minute, 54 seconds Saturday afternoon to grind out a 79-74 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory in…

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WIU’s McCowan captures OVC Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week honors

Western Illinois University freshman Raegan McCowan leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring at 19.3 points per game. | Photo courtesy WIU athletics

MACOMB, Ill. — Not a week goes by without Western Illinois University freshman Raegan McCowan earning an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball honor. This week, she earned two. Coming off a scintillating scoring effort in an overtime loss to Southern Indiana last Saturday, McCowan was named both the OVC Player of the Week and the…

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Hawks refuse to lose grip on lead in closing minutes, knock off Bulldogs in GLVC play

Quincy University freshman forward Ashlynn Arnsman scored nine points, including nine in the final two minutes of regulation, in Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over Truman State at Pershing Arena in Kirksville, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Once the Quincy University women’s basketball team managed to grab the lead, the Hawks weren’t giving it up. Freshman forward Ashlynn Arnsman made back-to-back critical field goals in the final two minutes, junior guard Karsyn Stratton made four straight free throws and point guard Mikayla Huffine capped a career-best scoring effort with…

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Newbon’s season-best scoring effort, Ortiz’s complete game sends C-SC out with victory

Sophomore guard Avery Oetting helped the Culver-Stockton College women's basketball team finish the regular season with a 76-72 victory over Park in Heart of America Athletic Conference play in Parkville, Mo. | Photo courtesy C-SC Athletics

PARKVILLE, Mo. — Addison Newbon scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team to a 76-72 season-ending victory over Park University on Saturday afternoon at the Breckon Events Center. Newbon was one of four players to score in double figures for the Wildcats, who end the season with an 11-17…

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Two game-winning shots in final 10 seconds don’t drop as postseason hopes evaporate for C-SC women

Culver-Stockton's Aaliyah Ortiz, left, and Nevaiah Bell-Tanner | Photo courtesy of C-SC Athletics

LAMONI, Iowa — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team suffered a fatal blow to its postseason chances with a 66-65 loss to Graceland University Wednesday night at the Morden Center. The loss, coupled with Peru State’s victory at Baker University, all but ended the Wildcats’ hope for a berth in the Heart of America Athletic…

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Victory in home finale keeps C-SC women in hunt for spot in conference tournament

Culver-Stockton College forward Whynter Waterhouse-Brennan puts up a shot during Saturday's Heart of America Athletic Conference game against Baker at Charles Field House in Canton, Mo. | Photo courtesy C-SC Athletics

CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team stayed in the hunt for a postseason berth with a 69-60 victory over Baker in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon at Charles Field House. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats are tied with Peru State for the eighth and…

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Strong start doesn’t lead to stellar finish as QU women can’t keep Lewis from rallying for victory

Quincy University guard Mikayla Huffine drives to the basket during Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference game against Lewis at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Olivia Kindt, QU Athletics

QUINCY — It wasn’t a slow start that that did in the Quincy University women’s basketball team this time. Instead, it was an erratic finish. Less than 48 hours after erasing a 29-point deficit to nearly upset the University of Indianapolis, the Hawks scored the opening 12 points and led Great Lakes Valley Conference co-leader…

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Epic second-half rally for QU women falls narrowly short in GLVC setback against UIndy

Quincy University guard Janiece Dawson, left, brings the ball into the frontcourt during Thursday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference game against Indianapolis at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Olivia Kindt, QU Athletics

QUINCY — It was nearly a comeback for the ages. After playing arguably its worst half of the season and trailing by 29 points two minutes into the third quarter Thursday night, the Quincy University women’s basketball team appeared headed toward a lopsided defeat at the hands of the University of Indianapolis. Instead, the Hawks…

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Winless Spoon River provides perfect tonic for home-court woes for John Wood women

John Wood Community College's Amber Durst sets a screen on a Spoon River College player to clear a path for teammate Grace Deters to dribble to the basket during the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's women's college basketball game at the Student Activity Center in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — Winning at home has been a struggle for the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team this season. Until Wednesday night. The Trail Blazers scored the opening 12 points and 23 of the first 25 to coast to an 87-31 victory over winless Spoon River College in a Mid-West Athletic Conference game at…

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C-SC women fall into eighth-place tie in Heart following loss at Grand View

Nevaiah Bell-Tenner led the Culver-Stockton College women's basketball team with 18 points in Saturday's loss at Grand View in Des Moines, Iowa. | Photo courtesy C-SC athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team suffered a 68-61 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss to 17th-ranked Grand View University at the Charles Johnson Wellness Center on Saturday. The loss drops the Wildcats into a tie with Graceland for the eighth and final playoff spot for the conference postseason tournament with…

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Rough start to fourth quarter proves costly as QU women suffer loss at McKendree

Quincy University's Cymirah Williams, right, looks to attack along the baseline during Thursday night's game against McKendree in Lebanon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett, McKendree athletics

LEBANON, Ill. — The problem the Quincy University women’s basketball team seemed to have fixed resurfaced Thursday night. Three quarters of quality play were undone by one rocky stretch. The Hawks led McKendree by one point heading to the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference, only to get outscored 11-2 over the…

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Culver-Stockton women dodge two game-tying 3-pointers to snap six-game road losing streak

Culver-Stockton's Malia Carmack | Photo courtesy of Culver-Stockton College

MARSHALL, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team survived two game-tying 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds to escape with a 60-55 victory over Missouri Valley College Wednesday night in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game. The Wildcats held a 58-55 lead with 15 seconds remaining in regulation and had the ball…

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Hawks get third straight win heading to first place McKendree later this week

Cymirah Williams led Quincy University with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the team's 73-60 win over William Jewell in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. - Photo by Denny Sinnock, Quincy University

QUINCY – Passion and persistence paid off for Cymirah Williams and her Quincy University teammates Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Arena. Williams led the Hawks with a 20-point, 15 rebound effort, but hit what she called an “up and over” inside move that led to a three-point play and a 73-60 win over William Jewell in…

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Stevenson buries clinching 3-pointer to help QU women rally past Rockhurst, even GLVC record at 7-7

Quincy University's Taya Stevenson drives to the basket past Rockhurst's Ali Kamies during Thursday night's women's college basketball game at Pepsi Arena in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — When she caught the pass from Karsyn Stratton at the top of the key, Taya Stevenson swears she never hesitated. Even though she hadn’t taken a 3-point shot the entire game. Even though she was only a 27 percent 3-point shooter this season.  “I think I have confidence in myself, and my teammates…

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Culver-Stockton women take defending NAIA champs to overtime before suffering road defeat

Clarke's Mya Merschman goes between Culver-Stockton's Katie Webb, left, and Aaliyah Ortiz during Wednesday night's women's college basketball game in Dubuque, Iowa. | Photo courtesy of Clarke Athletics

DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team gave nationally-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Clarke University all it could handle Wednesday night before losing 73-70 in overtime in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game at the Kehl Center. The Wildcats led 52-43 entering the fourth quarter. However, the fifth-ranked Pride outscored the…

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Culver-Stockton’s Ortiz named Heart of America Athletic Conference player of the week

Aaliyah Ortiz averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 5.5 steals in victories over William Penn (Iowa) University and Peru State (Neb.) College. | Photo courtesy of Culver-Stockton College

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College guard Aaliyah Ortiz has been named the WinWon Heart of America Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 21-27, the league announced Monday. Ortiz, a graduate student from Tucson, Ariz., led the Wildcats to two victories. She averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists…

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All By Myself: Without twin sister by her side, Flynn becoming one of top scorers in JWCC history

John Wood Community College's Katey Flynn goes up for a layup during Saturday afternoon's game against Danville Area Community College at the Student Activity Center in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY – John Wood Community College guard Katey Flynn admits it’s strange not playing alongside her twin sister, Klare, on the basketball court this season. The Flynn twins had been teammates in whatever sport was in season growing up in Mount Sterling. The only previous separation came during their freshman year in high school when…

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QU women lead for most of contest but lose for 14th consecutive time to Drury

Drury's Anna Hitt, right, dribbles to the basket past Quincy's Janiece Dawson during Thursday night's women's college basketball game at the O'Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Mo. | Photo courtesy of Peyton Hannah, Drury University

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An opportunity lost. The Quincy University women’s basketball team opened an early 12-point lead and led for nearly 27 minutes Thursday night, but its inability to convert on the offensive end in the closing minutes allowed Drury to rally for a 70-66 victory at the O’Reilly Family Event Center. The Panthers improved…

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Playing from behind too much for QU women to overcome in loss to Upper Iowa

Quincy University's Cymirah Williams, left, puts up a shot during Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference game against Upper Iowa at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Upper Iowa’s opening salvo was too much for the Quincy University women’s basketball team to overcome. The Peacocks needed just four possessions in the initial two minutes to bolt to an 11-0 lead and that cushion proved to be enough to withstand a second-half charge by the Hawks to secure a 69-62 victory…

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Choosing to ‘get on the boat’ enables QU women to outlast Truman State for needed GLVC victory

Quincy University's Cymirah Williams gets fouled with seven seconds remaining in regulation and made both free throws to help preserve Thursday night's 78-75 victory over Truman State at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Cymirah Williams put the onus squarely on the shoulders of the Quincy University women’s basketball players. “It’s a choice,” the junior forward said. “It’s our choice.” The choice seems quite simple. Fight through adversity, play buzzer to buzzer and find a way to win or slack off for a quarter or more and…

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Photo gallery: QU men and women complete GLVC sweep of Truman State

Truman State guard C.E. Talton, a Monroe City product, applies pressure to Quincy University's Zion Richardson during Thursday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams completed a Great Lakes Valley Conference sweep of Truman State on Thursday night at Pepsi Arena with the men surviving a 75-73 finish and the women making clutch free throws for a 78-75 victory. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at Pepsi…

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Three solid quarters not enough for QU women to erase one dismal quarter at start of loss to SBU

Quincy University guard Mariann Blass kicks a pass to the corner during the first half of Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference game against Southwest Baptist at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team continues to find itself three-quarters of the way to success. That missing quarter tripped the Hawks up again Saturday. Southwest Baptist outscored Quincy 23-10 in the first quarter and never relinquished the lead despite the Hawks’ second-half surge, leading to a 68-65 victory in Great Lakes Valley…

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QU women’s basketball team never gets on track in GLVC loss to UMSL

Quincy University's Ashlynn Arnsman, left, and Missouri-St. Louis' Morgan Ramthun battle for a rebound during Thursday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Discombobulated might be the most apropos way to describe the way things went Thursday night for the Quincy University women’s basketball team. Penciled into the starting lineup like usual, sophomore forward Chomp Danso was a last-minute scratch because of a health concern. It left the Hawks out of sorts from the start as…

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Photo gallery: QU men and women square off against UMSL in GLVC doubleheader

Quincy University's Cymirah Williams, left, gets fouled while shooting by Missouri-St. Louis' Alex Wolff during Thursday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams struggled through a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader Thursday night at Pepsi Arena. The women lost 62-44 to Missouri-St. Louis, while the men suffered a 75-66 setback against the Tritons. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening courtside and put together this photo…

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

Quincy University junior forward Cymirah Williams scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in Saturday's victory over Maryville. | Muddy River Sports file photo

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,…

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Second-quarter struggles put QU women’s basketball in bind

Quincy University guard Taya Stevenson looks to score during Saturday's game against Ursuline College in the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy QU athletics/Olivia Kindt

QUINCY — A second-quarter lull offensively put the Quincy University women’s basketball team in a hole it could never escape. Leading 15-14 after the first quarter, the Hawks were outscored 24-9 in the second 10-minute frame by Ursuline College and suffered a 77-60 loss in the final game of the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Pepsi…

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QU women put up fight in Boyd’s debut, fall one possession short of completing comeback

Quincy University's Karsyn Stratton, left, tries to work around the pressure of Cedarville's KaCee Kyle during Friday's game in the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The fight is there. The consistency isn’t. Once the Quincy University women’s basketball team develops the latter, winning games that are decided in the waning moments will become more common. For now, the Hawks will take the lessons learned from Friday afternoon’s 54-52 loss to Cedarville in the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Pepsi…

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Photo gallery: QU women’s basketball team fights to final buzzer in season opener against Cedarville

Quincy University women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd, right, walks in front of the Hawks' bench during Friday's game against Cedarville in the GLVC/G-MAC Crossover Challenge at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Courtney Boyd’s first game as the head coach of the Quincy University women’s basketball team showcased a couple of the traits that are expected to be hallmarks of her teams. Grit and resiliency. If the Hawks can add better scoring touch and more consistency to that mix, good things lie ahead. Quincy suffered…

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QU men, women both picked to finish ninth in GLVC preseason basketball coaches polls

Quincy University sophomore Mason Wujek, left, shoots over Iowa's Ben Krikke during an exhibition game in Iowa City, Iowa. | Photo courtesy Hawkeye Sports

QUINCY — The Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball programs find themselves in the same exact spot. They have to prove the Great Lakes Valley Conference coaches wrong. Both QU programs were picked ninth among the league’s 14 teams in the preseason poll of the league’s coaches. Only the top eight teams make the GLVC…

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‘Here we go’: Boyd ready to guide QU women’s basketball program back to historic heights

Quincy University President Dr. Brian McGee, left, and new women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd share a laugh at the end of her introductory press conference Thursday in the Hall of Fame Room on the QU campus. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The caller ID read “Josh Rabe,” which meant Courtney Boyd knew which direction the conversation would veer if she answered. She said hello without hesitation. “What went through my head was, ‘Here we go,’” said Boyd, the Keokuk, Iowa, native who recently capped her sixth season as the head women’s basketball coach at…

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Schuckman: Coaching change is emotional torture on Hawks, but their research reveals ‘good, positive things’ with Boyd’s hiring

Courtney Boyd, introduced Thursday as the new Quincy University women's basketball coach, discusses her approach to coaching during her introductory press conference in the Hall of Fame Room on the QU campus. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The overlapping exodus of Kaci Bailey and arrival of Courtney Boyd made for an emotionally challenging 36 hours for the Quincy University women’s basketball players. “Definitely a little stressful, a little overwhelming,” freshman guard Rylee Denbow said. Mix in plenty of uncertainty. “There are a lot of unknowns up in the air right…

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Schuckman: Bailey left QU women’s basketball program riding upward trajectory

Kaci Bailey led the Quincy University women's basketball team to 22 wins in two seasons at the helm, nearly equaling the 25 victories the program had in the previous five seasons combined. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Kaci Bailey never intended to leave Quincy University as abruptly as she did. “Obviously, I wouldn’t have bought a house,” she said. Bailey never sold it as a lifelong commitment to coach women’s basketball here either. “As I told (QU athletic director Josh Rabe), QU has never been in the mix to be…

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Last-second shot doesn’t fall, but QU women earn respect by throwing scare into top-seeded Drury

Quincy University assistant coach Jenna Knudson, background, and head coach Kaci Bailey, right, console Beth Matas Martin after her potential game-winning shot didn't go in during the Hawks' quarterfinal game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. | David Adam

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — It wasn’t quite the U.S. national hockey team over the Russians in 1980, but for NCAA Division II women’s basketball, it was darned close. Nobody could even fathom the Quincy University women’s basketball team staying remotely close to Drury, ranked No. 2 nationally, in the first round of the Great Lakes…

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Photo gallery: QU women nearly pull first-round shocker at GLVC Tournament

Quincy University's Janiece Dawson goes up for a reverse layup during Thursday night's women's basketball quarterfinal at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. | David Adam

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The eighth-seeded Quincy University women’s basketball team nearly pulled off one of the biggest stunners in the history of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, falling 79-78 to top-seeded Drury in Thursday’s tourney quarterfinals. MRN Editor David Adam put together this photo gallery:

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Nelson’s game-winning buzzer-beater earns QU women spot in GLVC Tournament

Quincy University forward Sarah Nelson scored at the buzzer Saturday afternoon to beat Rockhurst 65-63 and push QU into the GLVC Tournament field. | Muddy River Sports file photo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Friday night, during the team dinner for players and parents, Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey gave senior forward Emma Knipe’s parents a solid reassurance more was in store. “I told them, ‘Tomorrow’s not our last game,’” Bailey said. A homegrown senior — Quincy native Sarah Nelson — made sure…

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C-SC women overcome slow start offensively, power way into Heart tourney quarterfinals

Culver-Stockton College guard McKenzie Lathrom scored 20 points to lead the Wildcats to a 61-52 victory over Grand View in the opening round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament. | Photo courtesy C-SC Athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team’s ability to find some offensive rhythm enabled it to survive and advance in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament. Trailing by a point after shooting just 26.9 percent from the field in the first quarter, the fifth-seeded Wildcats went 8 of 16 from the…

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Bailey ‘proud of the effort’ as QU women lose home finale to Truman State

Beth Matas Martin, right, played all 40 minutes and finished with a team-best 17 points, the only QU player to reach double figures against Truman State. | Photo courtesy of Denny Sinnock

QUINCY – Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey knew her team was facing a tall order Saturday afternoon in its final home game of the season. Truman State entered the game in Pepsi Arena having won 11 straight games in the series. The Bulldogs began the day as the second-highest scoring team in the…

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QU women see GLVC tourney hopes take major hit with lopsided loss to Illinois-Springfield

Illinois-Springfield's Ariyah Douglas gets a shot off between two Quincy University defenders during Saturday's Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The math never lies. “It’s tough to come back from 25 points down,” Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey said. And that’s exactly where QU found itself at intermission. Illinois-Springfield, which entered Saturday’s game with a 2-21 record, dominated Quincy from start to finish in posting an 81-59 Great Lakes Valley Conference…

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Photo gallery: QU men, women falter in GLVC play against Illinois-Springfield

Quincy University assistant coach Tim Walsh talks to point guard Isaiah Foster during a timeout in Saturday's game against Illinois-Springfield at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The fight to earn a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament became a little tougher for the Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams after both suffered setbacks Saturday against Illinois-Springfield at Pepsi Arena. The QU men lost 84-74, while the women were drubbed 81-59. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…

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Crim: Matas Martin’s play is pointing QU women’s basketball team in right direction

Quincy University point guard Beth Matas Martin is leading the Hawks in scoring, 3-pointers, assists and steals this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Kaci Bailey inherited 14 players on a team coming off a two-win season when she was hired as the Quincy University women’s basketball coach in April 2021. Not the ideal recipe for immediate success. “It was late in the recruiting cycle, and I told the coaches we needed to try to sign a…

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‘It’s just super exciting’: Matas Martin scores 33 as QU women reach double digits in victories for first time in seven seasons

Beth Matas Martin goers up for a shot during Quincy University's women's basketball game against Maryville on Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Arena. | David Adam

QUINCY — Sarah Nelson remembers the bad times, which makes it so much easier to enjoy the good times. In Nelson’s first three seasons, the Quincy University women’s basketball team had an 18-59 record and a 10-50 record in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Hawks now have won three of their last four GLVC…

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Photo Gallery: Quincy University women pick up 10th victory by defeating Maryville

Gabby Burns (12) high-fives Quincy University women's basketball coach Kaci Bailey after Saturday's 84-78 victory over Maryville in Pepsi Arena. | David Adam

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team picked up its 10th victory of the season — the most since the 2015-16 season — with Saturday’s 84-78 victory over Maryville at Pepsi Arena. Muddy River News Editor David Adam sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:

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

Quincy University guard Beth Matas Martin brings the ball up the floor during Thursday night's game against McKendree in Lebanon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett, QU Athletics

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…

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Hawks spread wealth offensively in grabbing 20-point GLVC victory against Miners

Point guard Beth Matas Martin led the Quincy University women's basketball team with 20 points in Saturday's victory over Missouri S&T. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Beth Matas Martin scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures Saturday as the Quincy University women’s basketball team rolled to an 83-63 victory over Missouri S&T in Pepsi Arena. The victory was the Hawks’ first against the Miners, who had won the previous five meetings, since . QU made 9…

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Got your six: JWCC women’s basketball team wins MWAC opener despite depleted bench

John Wood Community College guard Madison McFerrin makes a layup during the second half of Wednesday's Mid-West Athletic Conference victory over Spoon River College at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Lauren Bogle doesn’t dwell on the fact the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team has only six players healthy and eligible at this juncture. “You just need five on the floor, right?” the first-year Trail Blazers coach said. If the Trail Blazers can maintain the right level of defensive aggressiveness without getting…

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QU women go on closing kick to snare GLVC victory against Southwest Baptist

Quincy University guard Grace Flanagan brings the ball up the floor against Southwest Baptist during Saturday's game at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team outscored Southwest Baptist University 17-3 over the final four minutes Saturday afternoon to post a 63-59 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory in Pepsi Arena. A 3-pointer by Beth Matas Martin from the top of the circle gave the Hawks the lead for good with just under three…

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Triple-overtime loss sinks Culver-Stockton women into fifth place in conference race

Culver-Stockton's Aaliyah Ortiz tries to shoot the ball with her ponytail covering her face during Saturday's triple-overtime loss to MidAmerica Nazarene. The Pioneers' Jordynn Gonzalez defends on the play. | Photo courtesy of Lisa Wigoda

CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball team started the week with a chance to establish itself as a contender for the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship. Back-to-back losses to two of the Heart’s best teams this week, however, have dropped the Wildcats from second into fifth place in the league. Saturday’s triple-overtime…

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QU women’s basketball team unable to overcome slow starts to each half

Quincy University guard Beth Matas Martin, left, drives to the basket during the second half of Thursday's Great Lakes Valley Conference game against Truman State at Pershing Arena in Kirksville, Mo. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett, QU Athletics

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — A sluggish start to each half ruined the start to the Quincy University women’s basketball team’s new year. Truman State outscored Quincy 10-3 over the first five minutes of the first quarter and then went on a 9-2 run over the first two minutes of the third quarter, building an insurmountable lead…

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Strong closing kick carries QU women’s basketball team to GLVC road victory

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team found itself in a precarious position once again. A one-point game with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. In five of the seven games prior to Thursday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference showdown with Illinois-Springfield, the Hawks were within four points heading to the closing…

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Inability to sustain energy, effort leads to another single-digit loss for QU women’s basketball team

Quincy University forward Emma Knipe fights for possession during Monday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference tussle with Lewis at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Kaci Bailey’s exasperation resulted in a complete overhaul of the Quincy University women’s basketball team’s lineup midway through the third quarter Monday night. “I said put five new ones in,” the second-year Hawks coach said. “I didn’t even know who was in.” All Bailey was certain of was her starters weren’t providing the…

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Photo gallery: QU men, women split GLVC basketball doubleheader with Lewis

The Quincy University men's basketball players celebrate their 71-69 victory over Lewis in Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Monday night at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A clutch shot and a search for energy. That’s the most poignant way to describe opposite ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader for the Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams. Zion Richardson banked in a shot with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation to life the QU men to a 71-69…

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QU women’s basketball team gives itself chance, falls short of beating Indianapolis in GLVC opener

Quincy University's Emma Knipe drives to the basket during Saturday's game against Indianapolis at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Night in and night out, the Quincy University women’s basketball team is putting itself in position to challenge for the lead at the end of regulation. Figuring out how to win nip-and-tuck games is the next step. Saturday, the Hawks had a chance to tie Indianapolis in the final 10 seconds of regulation…

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Despite more Matas Martin late-game heroics, Hawks fall in overtime in weekend finale

Quincy University's Kealani Nieves looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during Sunday's game against Winona State in the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic at Pepsi Arena. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team is oh-so-close to being oh-so-successful. For the second time in four games, the Hawks went to overtime, getting a pair of clutch Beth Matas Martin baskets in the final 20 seconds of regulation to tie Sunday’s championship game of the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic against Winona State at…

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Martin beats buzzer and Rogers State as QU women’s basketball team earns first victory

The Quincy University women's basketball team's bench erupts after Beth Matas Martin hit a game-winning shot with less than a second left Saturday against Rogers State in the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — When the final play produces the perfect outcome, it had to be run exactly the way it was designed in the huddle, right? “Something like that,” Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey said with a wry smile. When Rogers State disrupted Quincy planned off a sideline inbounds play with 6.9 seconds remaining…

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Photo gallery: Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic at Pepsi Arena

Quincy University guard Beth Matas Martin, left, fights to get past Rogers State's Fredrionna Adams during Saturday's game in the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The scheduled had to be adjusted and delayed, but Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Arena, four NCAA Division II women’s basketball teams converged for the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic and delivered a pair of hard-fought affairs. Winona State defeated McKendree 64-50 in the opener, and Quincy University knocked off Rogers State 58-56 as Beth Matas…

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Former Hawks guard Adeyinka signs contract with professional team in Spain

Former Quincy University guard Dami Adeyinka signed a professional contract with a team in Spain's second division. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Dami Adeyinka may need to lean on a pair of former Quincy University teammates to bridge the language barrier as she embarks on a professional basketball career. The guard signed a contract with Magectias Contra Violencia Genero, one of 28 teams in Liga Femenina 2 de Baloncesto, which is the second division of…

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Former assistant coach returns to JWCC to take over women’s basketball program

Lauren Bogle

QUINCY — John Wood Community College athletic director Brad Hoyt’s short list of candidates to consider for the women’s basketball coaching position didn’t change because of the relatively short timeframe in which he had to conduct his search. Lauren Bogle’s name was always there. “Her energy and her commitment while she was here has resonated…

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Rodriguez retires after nearly three decades coaching women’s basketball at JWCC

Norm Rodriguez, left, celebrates the induction of three former John Wood Community College women's basketball players — from left to right, Lexanne Darwent, Megan Carlisle and Danielle Surprenant — into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last August. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — If there is a universal truth Norm Rodriguez can take from his nearly three decades coaching women’s basketball at John Wood Community College, it might be this. Even the best laid plans go awry. Rodriguez intended to coach one more season and then join his wife, Anita, at their new home in Tennessee,…

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Former QU great Jessica Keller joins women’s basketball coaching staff at Nebraska

Jessica Keller, right, a former Quincy University All-American basketball player, is joining the women's basketball coaching staff at the University of Nebraska following five seasons at Illinois State University. Photo courtesy ISU athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. — Jessica Keller continues climbing the coaching ladder. The all-time leading scorer in the history of the Quincy University women’s basketball program is heading to the Big 10 Conference, joining Amy Williams staff with the University of Nebraska women’s basketball program as an assistant coach. Keller spent the previous five seasons on the…

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Crim: Turpin’s mission of helping student-athletes has never changed even as her job and title have

From left to right is former Culver-Stockton College women’s basketball coach Kathy Turpin and her family — future daughter-in-law Katie Shelton, son Andrew, Kathy, husband Rick, daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Joe Holley. Submitted photo

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Once a coach, always a coach. While it has been 28 years since Kathy Turpin walked away from Culver-Stockton College as the winningest women’s basketball coach in school history, never to coach another college game, she is still doing her part to create an atmosphere for student-athletes to succeed. The competitive…

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Valiant effort from QU women falls short in fourth quarter of GLVC tournament loss to Truman State

Quincy University women's basketball coach Kaci Bailey talks to her team during a timeout Monday night in the GLVC Tournament opening-round game against Truman State at Pershing Arena in Kirksville, Mo. Photo courtesy QU Athletics

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team ran out of steam, but it wasn’t before a valiant effort. The Hawks led Truman State by four points at the end of the third quarter Monday night in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Pershing Arena before the Bulldogs opened…

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Knipe, Hawks end regular season on high note, win finale for first time in six seasons

Quincy University forward Emma Knipe looks to outlet after grabbing a rebound during the Hawks' 78-70 victory at Southwest Baptist on Saturday at Bolivar, Mo. Photo courtesy Southwest Baptist Athletics

BOLIVAR, Mo. — The day will come when the Quincy University women’s basketball program will have a series of firsts that highlight a return to prominence within the Great Lakes Valley Conference. It takes a number of smaller firsts to get there. Saturday, the Hawks experienced a couple of those. For the first time since…

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Saving the best for last: QU women finish home portion of schedule with back-to-back victories

Quincy University senior guard Maddie Spagnola, center, sheds some tears as she leaves the Pepsi Arena floor for the final time during the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against William Jewell. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Not once in Maddie Spagnola’s five seasons with the Quincy University women’s basketball program had the Hawks swept a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference games on the same weekend. So it’s easy to say she saved the best for last. With Dami Adeyinka scoring a career-high 19 points and Spagnola recording consecutive…

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Spagnola’s double-double leads QU women to upset of Rockhurst to kickstart final home weekend

Quincy University senior guard Maddie Spagnola scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Thursday night's victory over Rockhurst. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With her opportunities to play in Pepsi Arena dwindling and determined to put the Quincy University women’s basketball program on the right course to respectability before she leaves, Maddie Spagnola is playing with a chip on her shoulder. It’s bringing out the best in the punky senior guard. Spagnola spearheaded a spirited effort…

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Buoyed by energetic defensive effort, Hawks push Bulldogs to limit before falling in GLVC play

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — As Kaci Bailey entered the Quincy University women’s basketball team’s locker room following Thursday night’s game, the first-year coach sensed the Hawks expected her to be upset or discouraged. Instead, Bailey walked in clapping. “I was like, ‘Hell of a game,’” Bailey said as her depleted troops battled Truman State to the…

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Scoreboard for Thursday, February 3

Girls basketball At QHS gym, Quincy Quincy High School 45, United Township 37. Click here for the story. Men’s basketball At TRAC, Springfield, Ill. Quincy University 80, Illinois-Springfield 74. Click here for the story. At Morden Center, Lamoni, Iowa Culver-Stockton College 63, Graceland 51: A second-half surge offensively carried the Wildcats to a season sweep…

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Scoreboard for Saturday, January 29

Girls basketball At Bethalto, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 60, Bethalto Civic Memorial 46. Click here for the story. At Homer B. Musgrove Fieldhouse, Sterling, Ill. Quincy High School 69, Sterling 19: The Blue Devils picked up another Western Big 6 Conference victory, limiting the Golden Warriors to one field goal in the first quarter. Quincy…

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QU women cannot sustain momentum in GLVC loss at home to Indianapolis

Quincy University guard Beth Matas Martin, left, looks to attack while the Hawks' Sarah Nelson, right, gets tangled up with Indianapolis' Shira Sasson during the second half of Thursday night's game at Pepsi Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Every big shot Maddie Spagnola hit needed a complementary piece. That never happened. Spagnola, a senior point guard on the Quincy University women’s basketball team, buried a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer Thursday night, only to see the Hawks miss their first two shots of the fourth quarter. She hit another 3-pointer early…

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Slow start, Little’s injury lead to loss for JWCC women in league opener

John Wood Community College's Lenlee Klusman, left, navigates her way around Spoon Rivers's Taylor Stockham after grabbing a rebound during Wednesday night's game at the Student Activity Center. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Spoon River College’s game-opening 3-point barrage proved to be a challenge for the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team to overcome. So did losing McKenna Little to an ankle injury. The Snappers jumped out to a 9-2 lead Wednesday night in the Mid-West Athletic Conference game at the Student Activity Center by…

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Hawks struggle in fourth quarter, fall to Miners for third straight GLVC loss

Quincy University's Sarah Nelson, left, takes a rebound away from Missouri S&T's Alex Kerr during Monday night's game at Pepsi Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team needs to work on its closing kick, too. The Hawks trailed Missouri S&T by one point heading to the fourth quarter Monday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Pepsi Arena, but the Miners scored the first 10 points of the final stanza and led 58-47 with…

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QU women unable to overcome fatigue in second half of loss to Truman State

Quincy University's Regan Loconte, center, tries to knock the ball away from Truman State's Brioenne Burns during Tuesday night's game at Pepsi Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A 15-day layoff and a shortened bench proved to be too much for the Quincy University women’s basketball team to overcome once fatigue took hold. The Hawks trailed Truman State by five points at halftime in Tuesday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pepsi Arena before allowing 21 points in the third…

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Hawks buckle down on final possession, refuse to allow Tigers open look at trey

From left to right, Quincy University's Sarah Nelson, Maddie Spagnola and Beth Matas Martin celebrate after Nelson was fouled while scoring in the post against Iowa Wesleyan on Wednesday night. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — One stop equaled one much-needed victory. The Quincy University women’s basketball team proved up to the task. Leading Iowa Wesleyan by three points with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation Wednesday night at Pepsi Arena, the Hawks did not allow the Tigers an open look from the perimeter. Instead, Iowa Wesleyan was forced to…

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Scoreboard for Monday, November 29

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Abbey Schreacke celebrates with her teammates after scoring her 1,000th career point in Monday's 73-17 victory over Pleasant Hill/Western. Photo courtesy QND girls basketball program

Girls Basketball At The Pit, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 71, Pleasant Hill/Western 17: Abbey Schreacke reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career during a 20-point effort as the Raiders improved to 4-0. Schreacke, a junior guard, is the 15th player in program history to reach the milestone. Blair Eftink led QND with 25 points. At…

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