QUINCY, Ill. – A slow start from the field, coupled with a hot start by Quincy, put Missouri S&T's women's basketball team into a deep hole in the opening half as the Hawks defeated the Lady Miners 84-67 Thursday night in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The first half was a nightmare for the Lady Miners (7-11, 2-8 GLVC), who made only five-of-30 from the floor over the first 20 minutes. S&T did hold a lead early in the game following a three-point basket by
Janie Arand (Washington, Mo./St. Francis Borgia), but the Hawks (7-12, 3-7 GLVC) went on a 17-0 run to take control of matters – as the Arand three-pointer was the Lady Miners' only field goal in the opening period that ended with the Hawks holding a 21-5 lead.
Quincy made another run of 11-0 in the second quarter as the Hawks shot 50 percent from the field to S&T's 16.7 percent to leave the half with a 27-point advantage.
The Lady Miners had a solid third quarter offensively as they tried to get back into the contest, hitting 11-of-18 from the field and making six-of-eight from three-point range in a 31-point quarter. But after cutting the Hawk lead down to 16, Quincy's Jessica Merino – who came into the game averaging just three points per game – knocked down four treys in the quarter to stymie the rally efforts.
After the slow start, the Lady Miners hit 51.4 percent of their shots in the second half and made 10 three-pointers, but Quincy hit eight threes in the final 20 minutes – five by Merino – and was able to hold off S&T.
Arand and
Joe'l Bland (St. Charles, Mo./Homeschooled) finished with 13 points apiece to lead S&T, while
Bria Pierce (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) finished with 12 points and
Jordan Kabetske (Republic, Mo./Republic) with 10.
Anika Webster led the Hawks and all scorers in the game with 23 points.
Missouri S&T returns to action Saturday when it hosts Rockhurst on Military Appreciation Day at Billy Key Court. Game time is at 1 p.m.