Quincy, Ill. - The Quincy University women's basketball team concluded their 2024 home slate with a loss to the top team in the nation, Grand Valley State University, on Friday evening (Dec. 13). The Hawks kept the Lakers within reach and notched the Lakers' closest score of the year, 73-58.

Defense was the focus in the first quarter, both teams finished with their lowest quarter totals of the year, the Hawks at seven points and the Lakers at ten. Quincy kept the Lakers from attempting second-chance shots with ten defensive rebounds, three courtesy of senior Cymirah Williams. The Hawks got on the board first with a layup from Acheampomaa Danso. Mariann Blass helped the Hawks to a 4-2 run in the first minutes of the game, but the Lakers were quick to get back on track with eight straight points. Janiece Dawson rounded out the quarter with a three-point jumper. 

Grand Valley started the second quarter with back to back layups, but Quincy was quick to respond with six points in the following minutes. The teams traded off baskets and the Hawks kept tight to the Lakers until the final seconds of the second quarter when the Lakers sank a driving layup at the buzzer. The Hawks sent the Lakers to the locker room with the lowest hafltime score they've had all season, 28-24. 

The third quarter started in favor of the Hawks with a Blass jumper in the key but was later negated with three three-pointers and a mid-range jumper from the Lakers. The Lakers kept a steady lead in the third and capitalized on forcing the Hawks out of possession. Dawson and Blass worked some magic toward the end with back-to-back step back threes from Blass, both dished out by Dawson first. Dawson then caught the Lakers off guard on the inbound and launched the ball to Nicole McDermott at the other end of the court for a fast break layup to give the Hawks their last basket of the quarter. 

Thanks to bonus shots in the third, Grand Valley kept their lead in the teens through most of the final ten minutes. Quincy had a 9-0 run of free throw shots in the middle of the quarter to take the lead down to seven points. Grand Valley was paid a visit by the same free throw fairy after they hit the bonus and took the lead back to 15 points by the end of the game. 

Blass led the Hawks with 17 points and was the only Hawk in the double digits. McDermott led the Hawks with four assists and had six rebounds while Williams was the top Hawk off the boards with a season-high 16 rebounds. 

Quincy is the first team this season to stay within fifteen points of Grand Valley with all other opponents losing to the Lakers by 25+ points. The Hawks look forward to building on Friday's game with another ranked match against #6 Fort Hayes State and highly-regarded Western Washington next weekend at the Big Island Classic in Hilo, Hawaii. With the time difference, the Hawks will play at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., respectively, on Saturday and Sunday, December 21-22.