Quincy, Ill. - The Quincy University women's basketball team opened the Hansen Spear Funeral Home Classic with a loss to Roosevelt University on Friday night (Nov. 15). A thrilling fourth quarter battle ended in a 65-64 win in favor of the Lakers. 

Acheampomaa Danso started things off for the Hawks with the first basket in Pepsi Arena for the season. The Hawks took their biggest lead of the game toward the end of the first quarter after senior Cymirah Williams drew and and-one and made her extra free throw. The Hawks performed their best on offense in the first ten minutes with Mariann Blass leading the Hawks at six points after the first quarter. 

The Lakers took the reigns in the second going 9-17 in the field and scoring 22 total points. After giving up 12 points in the first within the paint, Roosevelt forced Quincy into more three-point opportunities. The Hawks suffered their worst shooting percentage from behind the key on Friday night, going 2-12, half of those shots in the second quarter. 

Quincy rallied in the third behind Williams who scored eight for the Hawks to cut the Lakers' lead to just three points at the end of the quarter. Danso had back-to-back baskets with the help from Williams while transfers Nicole McDermott and Taylor Haase each sank a layup in the third. The Hawks defense kept the Lakers to just 12 points on 13 shots. 

The Hawks took back the lead halfway through the fourth quarter on a jump shot from McDermott. The teams battled for the lead for the remaining minutes, Quincy with the upper hand since they drew the bonus with seven minutes to go. The Lakers and Hawks went basket for basket in the remaining minutes. McDermott gave the Hawks the lead on a reverse layup, but was quickly countered with a three pointer from Roosevelt. Williams cut the deficit in half with a free throw but the Hawks struggled to get the ball back to their end. 

Senior Karsyn Stratton made a key block on a layup attempt in the final ten seconds of the game, allowing the Hawks one more play to end the game. Despite some quick movement before and attempted shot from McDermott, the Hawks were unable to come out with a win. 

McDermott led the Hawks with 19 points and seven rebounds. Williams and Danso both recorded double-doubles--Williams with 16 points and 15 rebounds and Danso scoring 10 and gathering 12 rebounds. With the last-chance block, Karsyn Stratton led the Hawks with two blocks. 

The Hawks look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon against the Washburn Ichabods at 3 p.m.