Fourth-quarter surge allows QU women’s basketball team to rally to split weekend slate

QUINCY — Washburn guard Peyton Sterk’s 3-pointer half a minute into the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon could have been the dagger in a winless weekend for the Quincy University women’s basketball team.

Instead, it brought out the fight in the Hawks.

Mariann Blass answered with a 3-pointer that ignited a 24-point burst over the final nine minutes as Quincy rallied for a 70-67 victory in the Hansen Spear Funeral Home Classic at Pepsi Arena. The Hawks lost 65-64 to Roosevelt on Friday night.

This one could have gotten away, too.

Washburn took the lead by closing the first half on a 10-4 run for a 42-36 advantage and maintained the lead a majority of the second half. Quincy didn’t pull even until Ashlyn Arnsman split a pair of free throws with three minutes to play that tied the game at 62.

Nicole McDermott’s basket in the paint on the next possession gave the Hawks the lead. The Ichabods tied the game at 66 on Yiibari Nwidadah’s basket with 40 seconds to play. McDermott’s two free throws with 31 seconds left gave QU the lead, and she hit two more free throws with seven seconds left to clinch it.

McDermott led the Hawks (3-1) with 25 points, going 10 of 10 from the free-throw line, to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Acheampomaa Danso recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.