Quincy, Ill. - The Quincy University women's basketball team dropped their first game in 2025 to the Maryville University Saints on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22). Clean shooting from the Saints gave the Hawks trouble in the 94-86 defeat.
The Saints opened up the game with a quick three pointer off a stolen ball. Maryville gained an edge a few minutes later with back-to-back three-point buckets, taking the Hawks by surprise. Quincy cut the deficit to just two points, before the Saints sank another three.
Janiece Dawson responded with a three of her own, evened out just moments later by the Saints' fifth field goal form beyond the arc. Quincy came within one in the final minute off a
Nicole McDermott bucket.
Taylor Haase started the Hawks off with an and-one layup, giving Quincy its first lead of the game. McDermott extended the lead with a three pointer from the wing, but the Saints were quick to get back and went on a nine-point run in two minutes. Quincy tried to cut the lead during this time, but the Hawks couldn't find a slot inside and were cold from beyond the key.
Acheampomaa Danso broke up the Saints' scoring train with a driving layup. The game got heated for the Hawks in the second with both Danso and Williams being charged with technical fouls. McDermott sank two more three-pointers to help the Hawks, but the Saints raked enough free throws at the end to give the Hawks a 10-point deficit going into halftime.
On-court Offense slowed for both teams in the third quarter as both teams scored nearly half their points from the line. Despite ample opportunities, Quincy struggled to put a shot through the net. The Hawks went 6 for 17 out of the locker room, pushing the long ball with nine missed three point shots. Quincy outscored the Saints for the first time on Saturday in the third with the help from nine free throws.
The teams went possession for possession at the start of the fourth.
Janiece Dawson lit the Hawks bench up with a corner three. Dawson came up again with a three pointer on the wing to help cut the deficit to four points with six minutes to go. An early bonus for the Saints filled the bottom half of the quarter with free points. McDermott gave the Hawks some hope with her fifth three of the game, but Maryville trucked along. The Hawks fell short eight points at the final buzzer, losing their first game in 15 contests, and their first of 2025.
McDermott led the Hawks with 28 points, going 5-11 from beyond the arc and 5-6 from the line. Haase and Dawson each put up double digits, Haase with 17 and Dawson with 13. Danso led the Hawks in rebounds with nine while Blass gave out five assists in Saturday's contest.
Quincy faces the leader of the GLVC, Lewis University, on the road Thursday to start the final weekend of the regular season. Though the Hawks have clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament, the Hawks will need key wins next weekend to keep a high standing.
