Springfield, Ill. - The Quincy University women's basketball team hoisted the Bank of Springfield Rivalry Cup on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) after their win over the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois Springfield. The Hawks' 80-64 victory is their fourth straight win and their tenth of the season. 

The Hawks started the game with a nine-point run in the first quarter before the Prairie Stars got back into the game. The score stayed close through the first half where eight Hawks had a hand in their 31 points, Cymirah Williams leading the pack with eight points. 

Quincy had one of their best third quarter appearances this season and outscored the Prairie Stars 24-7. Mariann Blass started the party with a three-point jumper in the corner and gave way to back-to-back layups from Acheampomaa Danso and Williams. UIS came back with their seven points in the middle of the quarter before the Hawks shut out the Prairie Stars for four minutes and scored 15 unanswered points.

Quincy kept the momentum up in the final quarter. Danso accounted for 10 of the Hawks points in the final ten minutes and secured three rebounds. Taylor Haase also added seven points to the Hawks' scoreboard in the fourth quarter including an and-one layup that helped push the Hawks to a 17-point lead. Quincy finished the fourth quarter going 8 for 15 from the field. 

Danso was the star of the game today, leading the Hawks in points (16), rebounds (11), and blocks (3). She was the lone Hawk with a double-double this afternoon, despite five Hawks in the double digits in scoring (Danso, Williams, Blass, Haase, and Nicole McDermott). Karsyn Stratton led the Hawks in assists with five and steals with four. 

The Hawks look forward to a four-game stretch at home, all within the week. The Hawks will host Upper Iowa on Saturday, January 18th before inviting the Tritons of Missouri-St. Louis back to Pepsi on Monday, January 20th. Quincy will end the home stint with William Jewell and Truman State on January 23rd and 25th.