Box Score
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Box Score

Postgame Comments from Coach Knight-Kenesie

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Mar. 8, 2013)-- Tenacious team defense and a career-high 23 points from Gaby Bronson lifted the fifth-seeded University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's basketball squad to a 57-46 victory over fourth-seeded Quincy University on Friday evening in a Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinal showdown inside the Ford Center.

The Rangers (20-8) never trailed against the Hawks (14-13) and set up a semifinal tilt against GLVC East Division Champion Lewis University as the top-seeded Flyers soared past eight-seed Missouri S&T University 50-42. The Rangers and Flyers will meet for the third time this season on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

UW-Parkside grabbed an early 5-1 lead just over three minutes into the game as Kiah Simon drilled a pair of free throws while Jenna Endisch buried a three for the early lead. Quincy battled back, closing to within a point at 11-10 with 11:15 left in the first half off a jumper by Lucy Cramsey before the Rangers responded with jumpers from Bronson and Tara Knapstein to push the buffer back up to five points with just under 10 minutes to go.

The Hawks closed within three points with a Cramsey layup with 6:16 left in the first half in what turned out to be their final score of the opening stanza as the Rangers rattled off eight straight to secure a 25-14 halftime advantage.

The Rangers lead ballooned to 12 points after a Knapstein three point play before the Hawks' started chipping away, reducing the gap to just six with 14 minutes left and pulling within five with 9:16 remaining. UWP quickly upped the buffer back into double digits thanks to a Jaleesa Trussell three-pointer but the pesky Hawks wouldn't back down, closing the gap back to five with 4:59 left.

UW-Parkside answered with seven straight to grab a 51-39 lead with 94 seconds left and extended the buffer to 14 with 43 ticks left to secure the win.

Bronson came off the bench and was nearly unstoppable, hitting seven of her nine attempts from the floor while sinking all nine free throws for a career-best 23 points while finishing one board shy of a double-double. Trussell tallied nine points, five rebounds and four steals while Danielle Slivka added eight points, six rebounds and five steals.

Cramsey led Quincy with 15 points and seven rebounds with Hannah Weedman collecting 14 points.

Both squads struggled to shoot in the opening 20 minutes of action as the Rangers shot 29.2 percent (seven-for-24) while QU hit just 27.3 percent (six-for-22) from the floor. The teams regrouped in the second half, shooting 47.4 percent (nine-for-19) and 55.0 percent (11-for-20), respectively.

The Rangers beat Quincy in their own game. The Hawks entered the contest as one of the nation's best rebounding squads and led the GLVC but were outclassed by a hustling UWP as the Rangers finished the contest with a 34-26 edge, including 11 offensive rebounds.

UWP owned a 34-11 edge in bench points while enjoying a 26-10 advantage in points off turnovers.