Springfield, Mo. - The Quincy University women's basketball team dropped their second game of the week to the Drury University Panthers on Thursday evening (Dec. 5). The Hawks held the lead at the end of the first half, but the Panthers' strong shooting in fourth quarter propelled them to a 91-82 victory. 

Nicole McDermott kicked things off for the Hawks on Thursday evening with a three-point toss in the first minute of play. The Hawks and Panthers traded points with each other until the final minute of the quarter when the Panthers pushed ahead on a layup and two three-pointers. 

The Hawks shot their best in the second quarter with 29 points to show for it. Quincy went 11 for 23 in the quarter while limiting Drury to just 11 shots overall. Mariann Blass was the sharp shooter in the second quarter, scoring nearly half of the Hawks' total points and nearly all of her points in the game with 14. Quincy's defense forced eight turnovers and collected twice as many rebounds as Drury in the second quarter. 

The Panthers regained the lead minutes into the third quarter before going one-for-one with the Hawks for the majority of the quarter. Quincy ended the quarter up two points after shooting 35 percent from the field.

Drury gained momentum in the fourth quarter off seven baskets from the field and a whopping 14 points from free throws. Quincy struggled at the line this quarter, making just over half of their free throws. All ten of the Panthers final points were free throws and pushed their lead over the Hawks to nine by the end of the game. 

McDermott recorded her first double-double of the season and a season-high 28 points in Springfield this evening. Blass's 14 points in the second quarter propelled her to 18 points. Karysn Stratton recorded 14 points and a career-high six steals as well. Forwards Acheampomaa Danso and Cymirah Williams had nine and seven rebounds respectively. 

The Hawks look to notch their first conference win on Saturday afternoon in Rolla, Missouri, against the Miners of Missouri S&T.