ST. LOUIS — The Quincy University women’s basketball team couldn’t stem the tide during a nearly four-minute stretch of the first quarter, and it left the Hawks playing chase the rest of Thursday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference game.
Maryville went on a 13-0 run in the middle part of the first quarter to take a 17-4 lead, parlayed it into a 25-point quarter and steadily pulled away for an 85-60 victory at Moloney Arena.
The Hawks made their first two shots — both by senior forward Chomp Danso in the paint — before the wheels began falling off offensively. During the Saints’ 13-point spurt, the Hawks turned the ball over three times and missed three shots.
In fact, Quincy turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter and 22 times overall.
Meanwhile, Maryville was efficient offensively. The Saints shot 52.6 percent from the field (30 of 57) and 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from 3-point range. They also had 22 assists and committed just 11 turnovers.
Danso went 8 of 11 from the field and led the Hawks with 17 points, while Blair Eftink knocked down 3 of 5 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, while Katey Flynn added 10. Adylan Ayer went 3 of 5 from 3-point range and led the Saints with 16 points.
Quincy (13-11, 10-7 GLVC) remains seventh in the GLVC Point Ratings System with the top eight earning berths in the GLVC Tournament. The Hawks have three regular-season games remaining, including Saturday’s game at McKendree.