QUINCY, Ill. – Making their home debut in the 2022 Hansen – Spear Funeral Home Classic, the Quincy University Hawks went toe-to-toe with the Rogers State (Okla.) University Hillcats. The game went down to the wire with Beth Matas Martin hitting a fade away baseline jumper as time expired.

Both teams came out of the gate slow as four points combined were scored in the first 4 minutes of action. Neither teams was able to gain a lead bigger than two points as the action was back and forth. Kealani Nieves hit a jumper with 2:17 left before RSU scored the next two baskets to take the 12-10 lead after the opening stanza.

Sarah Nelson, who led the team with 20 points, scored back-to-back baskets to give the Hawks a three point advantage midway through the 2^nd quarter.  Matas Martin hit a jumper with five seconds left in the half to see QU gain its biggest lead of the contest.

As the 2^nd half started, both teams could not separate from each other. QU tied the contest at 28 with 6:39 left in the 3^rd quarter on a mid-range jumper by Cymirah Williams. Matas Martin scored the next four points to give the Hawks the four-point edge. RSU got back to within a point with 90 seconds left in the quarter, before Nelson put the Hawks five going into the final stanza.

Naelyn Rios gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the match at 7 within the first minute of the final quarter. RSU would hit a 3-pointer to make it a 53-50 game with two and a half minutes left. The Hillcats tied the game with 10 seconds left on a driving layup. After the QU timeout, the Hawks found Beth Matas Martin who hit the shot with less than a second on the clock to give the Hawks the win.

Game Leaders
Sarah Nelson: 20 points
Beth Matas Martin: 15 points, 7 assists