NORMANDY, MO. – Fueled by a career-high 29 points from freshman Claire Lueken, the Maryville women's basketball team moved past Quincy 87-81 in overtime of the quarterfinals of the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Gracie Gopalan also reached career highs with 20 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. The Saints advance to the semifinals Saturday, March 7, at 2:15 pm against the winner of the No. 3 Drury-No. 6 Truman State game. The contest will again be at the Mark Twain Building on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the extra session, Quincy scored the first three points before Lueken converted on a driving layup. The teams traded buckets as the Hawks were up 78-75 with 2:29 left to play. Lueken drilled her fifth 3-pointer of the day, another career best, to forge a 78-78 tie. The Maryville defense forced a QU turnover as Gopalan came up with the steal. Lueken scored to push the Saints on top 80-78 at the 1:42 mark. In the final minute, Olivia Hahn came up with a steal which led to two more free throws by Gopalan for an 82-78 edge. Quincy made one free throw but Lindsey Schadewalt grabbed the carom and Gopalan sank two at the line with 22.5 seconds remaining. QU missed on its ensuing trip with Schadewalt again tracking down the rebound. She converted two free throws with 15.1 ticks left for an 85-79 lead that sealed the victory.
 
Down double digits early, the Saints scored 11 straight points to end the first quarter. Lindsey Schadewalt hit a layup to start the run, and Claire Lueken drilled a wing 3-pointer. Olivia Hahn brought a spark off the bench with five straight points on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. Lueken sank two free throws with 0.5 seconds left for a 16-16 tie. The Maryville defense did not give up a basket and forced a pair of free throws.
 
In the second, Lueken drained a triple from the baseline, and two at the line by Gracie Gopalan put the Saints ahead by three. Maryville used an 8-1 push to take its largest lead of the game. Lueken had a three-point play followed by two more at the stripe by Gopalan. Maryville converted three more at the free-throw line for a 34-26 lead. The Hawks scored the final five points to cut the Maryville lead to 34-31 at the break.
 
The Saints added on to their lead midway through the third as Schadewalt hit a jumper and Hahn connected on a 3-pointer for a 45-38 advantage. QU brought the deficit back down to three before the Saints tacked on seven straight points. Adylan Ayer splashed in a 3-pointer from the left side, and Madyson Rigdon scored on a layup. A bucket by Gopalan made it 52-42. Schadewalt converted a short jumper as the Saints hauled a 56-47 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Saints led all the way down the stretch in the fourth quarter Maryville's margin stood at 71-64 with 2:13 left to play. However, the Saints went scoreless as Quincy scored the last seven points to force overtime.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Claire Lueken - 29
Rebounds: Gracie Gopalan - 9
Assists: Gracie Gopalan - 4
3-Pointers: Claire Lueken - 5
Steals: Alicia Burgos - 4
Blocked Shots: Liz Behan - 2
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 23-6
Quincy: 15-13
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints take on either Drury or Truman State in the GLVC Tournament Semifinals which will be played Saturday, March 7, at 2:15 pm, at UMSL's Mark Twain Building. The Lady Panthers and Truman State will play Friday, March 6.