The Quincy Unviersity women’s basketball team bowed out of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament with a semifinal loss at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Ill.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s stars:
1. Abbie Duethman
The junior did it all for the Saints (18-11). She was a beast on the boards, hauling in 16 rebounds, 12 of which came on the defensive end. She also scored 23 points, making two huge 3-poitners in the final minute to put the Saints on top. She’s one of the reasons I can see teh Saints being a major factor in the GLVC West Division next season.
2. Karlee Gengenbacher
Had it not been for Duethman’s second 3-pointer from the left corner with 27 seconds left, the sophomore would have been the hero for the Lady Hawks. After Duethman hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 58.9 seconds left for a 65-63, Gengenbacher answered with a 3-pointer of her own with 40 seconds left for a 66-65 QU advantage. She finished with 14 points and six rebounds .
3. Darla Gatschenberger
She was part of a great effort by the Lady Hawks’ bench. With the starters struggling, Gatschenberger, Felisha Loggins and Kelly Buresh proved to be a calming influence for the Lady Hawks. Gatschenberger hit a big 3-pointer during a 12-2 run by QU that helped the Lady Hawks rally from a nine-point deficit midway through the second half. She finished with seven points as the trio of her, Loggins and Buresh combined for 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
DOBservations
For the second straight year, the Lady Hawks bowed out of the tournament in the semfinals as the No. 1 seed. Last year, Indianapolis beat QU in the semis at Maryville. … Maryville, which was a success at the Division III level, will try for its first NCAA Division II Tournament berth in its first year of eligibility in Sunday’s 1 p.m. final against Kentucky Wesleyan. Neither Maryville nor Kentucky Wesleyan was in this week’s regional rankings, meaning the winner will bump a team out of the field. … QU was No. 5 in last week’s region rankings and should be a lock for the tournament for a second straight season. … There was a good-size crowd from Quincy that made its way over for the game. Among those in the crowd were school president Bob Gervasi, athletic director Marty Bell, football coach Tom Pajic and women’s soccer coach Dave Musso.
