Allendale, Mich. - The Quincy University women's basketball team concluded their historic run into the NCAA Tournament with a tough loss to the Lakers of Grand Valley State University on Friday evening (Mar. 14). The Lakers' full court press and high pressure on the Hawks' guards forced the Hawks to fall 108-72.
The Lakers began with a ten-point run before the Hawks could get on the board.
Cymirah Williams drew an and-one basket to help the Hawks into the game.
Nicole McDermott and
Taylor Haase each had a layup following Williams's three-point play, but the Lakers were quick to return the deficit. Quincy was limited in their shot choice in the first quarter, going 4-12 from the field.
Quincy improved in the second quarter, but Hawks' turnovers became the biggest factor for the Lakers' success at the time with 16 of their 28 points created from Quincy turnovers. Back-to-back-to-back turnovers on three Quincy possessions in the middle of the quarter gave the Lakers eight of those 16 points. Yet, Quincy benefited from driving layups from the point guards and scored their first six points of the quarter in that fashion.
Mikayla Huffine and
Janiece Dawson each sank three-pointers off
Taya Stevenson passes in an effort to cut the lead before halftime. The Hawks maintained a 50 percent shooting average in the second quarter but it was not enough to overtake the 23 baskets the Lakers scored, and the Hawks headed into halftime down 63-31.
After halftime, the Hawks opened up more scoring opportunities and found their groove in the third quarter, and for the first time this year, outscored the Lakers in a quarter. The Hawks went basket for basket with the Lakers at the start of the half, all from the Hawks' senior class. A corner three-pointer from Huffine in the final three minutes of the quarter kick-started a ten-point run with an and-one basket from Haase and two jumpers from McDermott. Quincy forced the Lakers into two turnovers during that time. Grand Valley State broke up the Hawks' offense with a layup, but Stevenson ended the quarter with a three-point bucket, helping the Hawks to a perfect three-for-three effort from outside the key.
The teams traded off baskets for the majority of fourth quarter, but a 9-0 run late in the game helped the Lakers to surpass 100 points. McDermott made the senior class's final basket of the year before being subbed off with the rest of her class.
Sydney Runsewe scored the final basket for the Hawks, a corner triple with ten seconds remaining.
The Lakers averaged over 60 percent from the field and scored all but four shots from the line, while the Hawks struggled from the line and only made half of their 28 free throws. Quincy had one of their best overall shooting games at over 50 percent, but the Lakers' quantity overruled the Hawks' high.
Quincy's senior class helped the Hawks to new heights in the 2024-25 season. Fifth-year transfer McDermott scored a fifth of the Hawks' points, in addition to hitting 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds while a Hawk. McDermott also led the Hawks in steals with 46 and finished her season leading the conference in free throws made. Williams upheld the defense, taking down one fifth of the Hawks' boards and posted the second-most rebounds in a season with 288 boards. Haase drew the most three-point, and-one plays under the basket for the Hawks while tacking on 286 points and 181 rebounds.
Stevenson's effort in rebounding became key during the Hawks' 15-game winning streak as well as her ability to flip possession by drawing offensive fouls. Dawson had the second-highest three pointers made and was a key contributor in bringing the ball down the court for the Hawks in 2024-25. Stratton led the Hawks with 100 assists and her floating jumper in the key brought 325 points to the Hawks' side of the scoreboard.
In a year's time, the Hawks transformed their place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, having gone from under .500 at the end of 2024 to posting the program's longest win streak (15 games) in over 15 years. The Hawks also jumped from being slated 7th in the preseason poll to finishing third in the conference and winning the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 2005. The Hawks have created a new era of women's basketball success this season and look to continue to trend upward in the coming seasons.
