Schuckman: Lessons from breakthrough season will help Hawks ‘remember that you can’

Quincy University guard Karysn Stratton brings the ball up the floor against Grand Valley State during Friday's game in the NCAA MIdwest Regional in Allendale, Mich. | Photo courtesy Olivia Kindt, QU Athletics

ALLENDALE, Mich. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team found itself where it wasn’t expected to be Friday night. Still playing. Hawks coach Courtney Boyd wanted her players to take note of that. Their season ended with a 108-72 loss to top-seeded Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional…

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Lakers capitalize on Hawks’ turnovers, end dream season in NCAA regional quarterfinals

Quincy University forward Taylor Haase muscles her way to the basket against Grand Valley State during Friday's NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinal game in Allendale, Mich. | Photo courtesy Olivia Kindt, QU Athletics

ALLENDALE, Mich. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team discovered a direct correlation between the number of turnovers it committed and the size of the deficit it faced. As one increased, so did the other. Grand Valley State was responsible for both. The Lakers, the No. 2-ranked team in NCAA Division II and the top-seeded…

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Schuck on a Truck: QU coach Courtney Boyd discusses Hawks’ trip to NCAA Midwest Regional

QUINCY — A remarkable turnaround in the second year of Courtney Boyd’s tenure as the head coach of the Quincy University women’s basketball program means the Hawks are back on the national stage. After winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship, the Hawks are returning to the NCAA Division II national tournament for the…

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Trust the process: QU women use inside strength, stingy defense to win first GLVC Tournament title in 20 years

Players run off the bench and on to the Hyland Arena court after the Quincy University women's basketball team's 64-60 victory over Maryville in Sunday afternoon's championship game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. | David Adam photo

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The recipe for winning this weekend at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament was uncommon but successful for the Quincy University women’s basketball team. The ingredients were a poor shooting first half, a halftime deficit, a re-dedication to pounding the ball inside, physically taking over the second half on defense and…

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Right on time: Success for QU women’s basketball time comes at the exact minute Boyd said it would

Quincy University women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd holds up the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship trophy after Sunday's 64-60 victory over Maryville at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. | David Adam photo

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — As the Quincy University women’s basketball players began to pull on their championship T-shirts on the Hyland Arena court after Sunday’s 64-60 victory over Maryville in the title game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, reserve guard Sydney Runsewe looked at Hawks coach Courtney Boyd and asked, “What time is…

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Hawks use rebounding, points in paint to surge past Drury, reach championship game of GLVC Tournament

Quincy University's Nicole McDermott slaps a QU sticker on the championship game of the women's basketball bracket banner after Saturday night's semifinal victory in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo. Behind McDermott is teammate Janiece Dawson. | David Adam photo

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team was on the brink of seeing its season end Saturday night when Makaiya Brooks scored from the baseline with 4:47 left in the third quarter to put Drury ahead 50-42. “I was not worried at all, really,” Hawks senior Cymirah Williams said. Apparently, neither were…

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Huffine’s ‘big-time play’ breaks late tie, propels QU women into semifinals of GLVC Tournament

Quincy University's Mikayla Huffine shouts out directions during the first half of Friday night's quarterfinal game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. | David Adam

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — It didn’t matter that Mikayla Huffine had missed eight of nine shots. She never lost her confidence. “I mean, they were leaving me open because obviously I wasn’t hitting the three,” said the Quincy University junior guard, who had missed all four of her 3-point shots in Friday night’s quarterfinal game…

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Despite impressive record, QU women getting no respect in NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll

Quincy University coach Courtney Boyd, shown during Friday night's quarterfinal game in the Great Lakes Valley Tournament, says her program's lack of success for the past eight years is hurting this year's team in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll. | David Adam

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team probably ought to be in consideration for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional next week. Surprisingly, they’re not. Friday night’s 74-69 victory over Missouri S&T at Hyland Arena in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Tournament improved the Hawks’ record…

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QU’s Boyd earns GLVC Coach of the Year, while three Hawks garner all-conference honors

Quincy University women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd led the Hawks to a 22-win regular season and a third-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, earning GLVC Coach of the Year honors along the way. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Courtney Boyd believes the phrase “Coach of the Year” is a misnomer. “To be honest with you, I wish it wasn’t a singular award,” she said. The second-year Quincy University women’s basketball coach knows she can’t do everything alone, including engineering one of the best turnaround stories in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.…

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Hawks taking good vibes with them into GLVC Tournament after winning home finale

Quincy University women's basketball coach Courtney Boyd gives a fist pump along the sideline after the Hawks scored a second-half basket in Saturday's 79-69 victory over Indianapolis at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Karsyn Stratton felt the vibes. “I got here and I was loose and I was like, ‘Let’s have some fun today,’” she said. Quincy University women’s basketball coach Courtney Boyd felt that, too. ‘I looked at the team and I said, ‘I feel bad for whoever steps in the gym today because you…

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Crim: Success of QU women’s basketball team is making Pepsi Arena electric environment once again

The steady play of veterans like senior guard Karsyn Stratton, left, and the leadership of second-year coach Courtney Boyd, right, has the Quincy University women's basketball team pointed in the right direction. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Little by little, the roar is returning to Pepsi Arena. The stands on the east side of the arena were nearly full for Saturday afternoon’s much-anticipated women’s basketball showdown between Quincy University and Drury. There was a vocal student section across from the Hawks’ bench that made its presence known, and fans were…

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Crim: Shift in Williams’ game helps Hawks become more dynamic, continue climbing GLVC standings

Quincy University senior forward Cymirah Williams hasn't had to shoulder the scoring load this season, but she's still averaging 9.9 points per game and continues to be a dynamic presence in the middle of the Hawks' lineup. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Cymirah Williams doesn’t try to hide her excitement. Her ever-present smile seems to grow broader with every victory by a resurgent Quincy University women’s basketball team. “To see how everyone on campus is showing so much love, recognizing how good we’re doing and the road we’re going down, it’s something to love,” she…

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Haase’s big effort pushes Hawks to weekend sweep and perfect start to season

Quincy University forward Taylor Haase scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Saturday's victory over Cedarville in the GMAC/GLVC Regional Crossover in Cedarville, Ohio. | Matt Schuckman photo

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — Game by game, the Quincy University women’s basketball team is erasing eight seasons of frustration and futility. After opening the season with a four-point victory Friday night — the Hawks hadn’t won a season opener since 2015 — they completed a weekend sweep in the GMAC/GLVC Regional Crossover by beating Cedarville 76-55…

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QU women’s basketball team finishes strong, wins first season opener since 2015-16 season

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — One of the biggest takeaways from Courtney Boyd’s first season as the Quincy University women’s basketball coach was the Hawks needed to learn to finish what they start. Friday, they finished with a flourish. The Hawks kickstarted Boyd’s second campaign by responding to a fourth-quarter surge from Ursuline College by closing the…

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Hawks ready to make significant strides in Boyd’s second season at helm

Nicole McDermott, a graduate transfer, will add depth to the Quincy University women's basketball team's backcourt and help instill the winning culture second-year coach Courtney Boyd expects. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on it. That’s Courtney Boyd’s approach. Entering her second season as the Quincy University women’s basketball coach, Boyd saw the Hawks limp to the finish line, losing six of their final seven games to finish with a 10-18 record. Five of those six losses were 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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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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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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‘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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