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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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 stay alive in conference tournament chase

Quincy's Sarah Nelson fights William Jewell's Chloe Frank for a rebound during Thursday's game at Pepsi Arena. - Denny Sinnock

QUINCY — After a game-opening burst by William Jewell, it was up to the Quincy University women to answer. And they did. The Hawks countered two early three-pointers with a 26-2 run that turned into a 30-point lead and eventually finished as a 77-54 win Thursday night at Pepsi Arena. The win puts Quincy (11-14…

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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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Schuckman: QU coach drums up support, supplies to help her hometown remain Dresden Strong following tornado

Quincy University women's basketball coach Kaci Bailey is heading to her hometown of Dresden, Tenn., with a van full of supplies and assistance after tornadoes devastated the community. Matt Schuckman photo

The text came close to midnight as Ric Bailey needed to know his daughter, Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey, hadn’t been in the path of the tornadoes that skirted the St. Louis area and created a path of destruction moving past Edwardsville, Ill. “He was making sure I’m OK,” Bailey said. At the…

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Change in culture, approach puts Hawks on right path to rebuild successful program

Quincy University junior forward Sarah Nelson is the Hawks' top returning scorer. Photo courtesy QU Athletics

QUINCY — Uncomfortably comfortable. That sums up what life has been like this fall for the Quincy University women’s basketball players. The cultural and physical changes they’ve experienced as first-year head coach Kaci Bailey establishes her program and her expectations have made life uncomfortable at times. Yet, working through it and embracing the change has…

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

Laney Lantz averaged 16.9 points as a sophomore, but the former Central-Southeastern all-stater has decided to leave the Quincy University women's basketball program. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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