SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Quincy University women's basketball team opened the 2020-21 season on the road at Illinois Springfield on Friday evening (Nov. 27). The Hawks got a combined 44 points from Laney Lantz and Sarah Nelson, but the Hawks fell 76-75 on a buzzer-beating layup. 

The Hawks started off the game fast and furious by jumping out to a 14-4 lead. Sarah Nelson got the first basket of the game with an and-one and converted on the free throw. 

Laney Lantz knocked down two three-pointers during the run to get herself in on the scoring. 

The Prairie Stars clawed their way back into the game at the end of the opening quarter. UIS ended the first period on a 9-0 run as both teams went to the 2nd quarter in an 18-18 tie. 

In the second quarter, Illinois Springfield got out to a 36-29 with 5:11 left. 

Sarah Nelson, Laney Lantz, and Marta Rivera helped fuel a late second quarter surge to get Quincy back in it before halftime. Lantz nailed a three followed by a layup from Nelson to cut the score to 36-34. 

In the last two minutes, Rivera converted on a layup and Nelson hit a free throw and a layup with three seconds left to tie the game 41-41 going to the locker room. 

The Hawks continued to roll into the third quarter. Quincy outscored the Prairie Stars 17-7 in the third to grab a 58-48 lead. Five different Hawks scored in the quarter including newcomers, Emma Knipe and Gabrielle Burns. 

UIS surged back in the final ten minutes of the contest. An 8-2 run by the Prairie Stars opened up the final quarter to make the score 63-56 with 6:29 to play. 

With under four minutes remaining, Lantz drained another three and Nelson sunk a free throw to give QU a ten-point lead, 69-59. 

Illinois Springfield slid back into it after an 8-0 run made it just a two-point game with 1:37 to play. 

Maddie Spagnola got to the free throw line twice in Quincy's next two possessions and went a perfect 4-4 to keep the Hawks in front 73-69. Only 47 seconds remained in regulation. 

An and-one by UIS cut QU's lead to just 73-72 with 37 seconds left. 

In the next two trips to the line, Quincy converted on two of four free throw attempts which allowed Illinois Springfield to stay within one point. 

Laney Lantz knocked in her free throw with 22 seconds left to make the score 75-74, but UIS had the final possession. 

The Prairie Stars made a basket in the lane with a second on the clock to slip past the Hawks by a final of 76-75. 

Stat Leaders
Laney Lantz - 23 points
Sarah Nelson - 21 points and 5 rebounds

Next Game
QU's next game will be this Sunday, November 29th, at Lewis University. First tip is set for 1:00 p.m.