The Lady Hawks’ season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.

Here’s a look at Saturday night’s stars:

1. Kassidy Shuman

After being held scoreless in the first half, Shuman exploded for 20 second-half points to help the Lady Hawks rally after they were down by as many as 14 points in the opening minutes of the second half. She had three 3-pointers in the second half as the Lady Hawks made 7 of 12 3-point attempts in the second half. She had a strong weekend in her finale with the program.

2. Ali Schwagmeyer

While Shuman did a lot of the scoring late, it was Schwagmeyer who helped spark an 11-0 run early in the second half that got QU back into the game. She finished with yet another double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. It was a fitting finish to a spectacular two-year career for the Camp Point native after her transfer from Charleston Southern.

3. Darla Gatschenberger

She saved one of the best games of her two-year career for last. Gatschenberger made two huge 3-point shots at the back end of that 11-0 run. She drilled four key free throws, too. Gatschenberger also played solid defense, helping the Lady Hawks get the stops they needed to get back into the game.

DOBservations

Ashland’s Kari Daughtery showed everyone why she’s the best player in the Midwest Region. She had 28 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Eagles. She tossed in five assists and two steals for good measure. She’s one of the best players I’ve seen in more than a decade of covering Division II women’s basketball. … The Eagles (30-1) will play Wisconsin-Parkside in Monday’s title game. The Rangers rallied back in the second half, using some great defensive play to spark a 24-4 run that pushed them to a 71-57 victory over Ferris State. Parkside will have its hands full with Ashland in front of what should be a packed Kates Gym with the Ashland students back from Spring Break. … QU coach Jeni Garber ended her first season tied for the single-most wins for a first-year Lady Hawks coach. She tied Frank Longo, who went 22-7 in the 1979-80 season.

The Lady Hawks opened NCAA Tournament play by rallying past the Norse in the final five minutes in Ashland, Ohio.

Here’s a look at Friday’s stars:

1. Ali Schwagmeyer

She said her personal battle with new GLVC Player of the Year Cassie Mogan wasn’t a personal one. Still, Schwagmeyer proved that she should have been a two-time GLVC POY with her performance. She scored 30 points, tying a career high, and pulled down 11 rebounds. She made key play after key play during the Lady Hawks’ game-ending 16-5 run, too. The Lady Hawks will need another performance like that out of Schwagmeyer on Saturday night if they’re to upset top-seeded Ashland.

2. Kassidy Shuman

She started out hot, scoring eight points in the early going as she and Schwagmeyer combined to score the Lady Hawks’ first 16 points. She attacked the basket and seemed at ease shooting the ball from outside, too. She finished with 15 points, three assists, four rebounds and two steals, making sure her college career lasted at least one more day.

3. Felisha Loggins

She had another strong performance off the bench. She scored six points, but was a factor on defense. She pestered Mogan and the other NKU guards when they tried to bring the ball up the floor. She played 24 minutes and was effective in every single one of them.

DOBservations

QU assistant coach Nathan Daume was the best dressed coach, without question, during Friday’s opening round of Midwest Region Tournament play. With the Lady Hawks in “the Big Dance,” Daume decided to dress as if he were going to a big dance. He went to a local tuxedo shop and rented a tux for the occassion. The tails look was a bit of a shocker for those who watched the game. The Lady Hawks players are trying to talk Jeni Garber into wearing a prom dress now. I doubt that will fly. … The fifth-seeded Lady Hawks were the only lower-seeded team to win on Friday as No. 1 Ashland, No. 2 Ferris State and No. 3 Ferris State all won their games. … The Ashland game drew around 1,500 people, so the Lady Hawks will face a crazy crowd tonight in the 6:30 p.m. semifinals.

The Hawks hopes for a Senior Night victory were dashed when time ran out on them at Pepsi Arena.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s stars:

1. Justin Brock

It looked for a second like the senior may be the hero again for QU. Ryan Stuckman missed a short jumper, and Brock had two great looks at tip-ins, but couldn’t get either to fall. By the time his third tip went in, the buzzer had sounded. He was shut out in the first half by UIS, but came back to finish with 15 points and eight rebounds.

2. Courtney Belger

The Hawks’ other senior to be honored also had nothing to be ashamed of as Belger played one of his best games of the season. He had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. He made several big plays down the stretch when the Hawks really needed it.

3. Jermaine Love-Roberts

The guy with one of the best names in the GLVC showed a game to match it. He scored the Prairie Stars’ final nine points of the game after center Michael Fakaude fouled out. Love-Roberts’ jumper with 50 seconds left to play proved to be the game-winning shot. He finished with 19 points to lead all scorers.

DOBservations

I finally figured out why Belger is such a lover of basketball shoes — he always has the best kicks. His mother, Darlease, works at a shoe store. Darlease, Courtney’s dad, Bryant, and his little brother, Treshaun, were all sporting sweet-looking Air Jordans. … Marshawn Norris is on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon. He’s the first person in Quincy who I’ve seen wearing a Lin shirt. … Injured senior Tyler Thompson once again won best dressed award for his willingness to wear a bow tie. … The loss damages QU’s hopes of getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. QU had just entered the region rankings at No. 8 this week. … The Hawks are the No. 8 seed in the GLVC Tournament and will play a 2 p.m. Sunday game against Drury at Pepsi Arena. The teams split their season series with each team winning on its home court.

The Lady Hawks wrapped up the GLVC West Division title and the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament with a Senior Night victory at Pepsi Arena.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s stars:

1. Ali Schwagmeyer

Knowing her, I doubt that Schwagmeyer cares too much if she’s named the GLVC Player of the Year for a second straight time. She’d much rather have the Lady Hawks do great things in the upcoming GLVC and NCAA Tournaments. Still, she’s putting on a heck of a push for a repeat win. She had 29 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals to lead the Lady Hawks’ charge. Like Jessica Stuckman before her, I shudder to think what her career totals might look like had she played all four of her college seasons at QU.

2. Karlee Gengenbacher

She was the beneficiary of some lax defense by UIS and great timing on her part early on. She scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half to help set the tone in the high-scoring affair. She did more than score as she also handed out six assists and grabbed five rebounds. That’s quite a difference from when these teams first met and she was stuck on the bench for most of the second half.

3. Linsay Henke

After a slow first half, Henke took off in the second, scoring 17 of her 19 points. Her inside play helped the Lady Hawks pile up 54 points in the paint, including 29 second-chance points. She added seven rebounds and four blocks. The four blocks helped her become the school’s single-season record holder.

DOBservations

All of the six QU seniors and coach Jeni Garber had their own “Fatheads” floating in the stands during the game. … Senior Renita Bunte, who has missed the last two seasons with knee problems, got to play the final 4.4 seconds of the game. … Senior Kassidy Shuman established a career high with 10 assists in her last Pepsi Arena appearance. … As the No. 1 seed, QU must wait until Sunday’s first round games are finished until learning their quarterfinal foe. QU will play a 6 p.m. game Thursday at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Hawks got back on the right track with a win at Pepsi Arena.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s stars:

1. Justin Brock

His string of 20-point games was snapped, but Brock was still vital to the Hawks’ winning effort. He finished with yet another double-double — the 20th of his career. He had 11 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists — QU had only five helpers as a team.

2. Scott Hahn

The steady freshman was just that for the Hawks. He matched Brock’s double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It was his first double-double as a collegian. His 10 rebounds are a career high. He also made one of the three 3-pointers the Hawks had on the day.

3. Marshawn Norris

The backup guard seemed to carry over the confidence he gained from making a game-tying 3-pointer late in the team’s 58-56 loss Thursday at Missouri-St. Louis. With the Hawks’ offense struggling in the first half, Norris stepped up to drill a 3-pointer and a jump shot on consecutive possessions. He finished with nine points in one of his better outings in a while.

DOBservations

The Hawks played their second straight game without junior Ryan Stuckman, who is out with a knee injury. Stuckman did go through pregame drills with the team. QU coach Marty Bell hopes to have Stuckman available for Thursday’s season finale with Illinois-Springfield at Pepsi Arena. … With the win, the Hawks secured a first-round home game for the GLVC Tournament. The game is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. … The Hawks’ game with UIS will be crucial for GLVC Tournament seeding. Both teams will take 11-6 league records into the game and the winner will earn second place in the West Division.

The Lady Hawks overcame a slow start — eight turnovers and five missed shots in the first six minutes — to earn a Great Lakes Valley Conference win at Pepsi Arena.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s stars:

1. Linsay Henke

The senior center had her most productive day in a very productive senior season. She finished with a career-high 24 points, making 9 of 14 shots from the floor and making 6 of 9 free throws. She added two more blocks to creep closer to the program’s single-season record. She has 60 on the season and needs just three more to set the record.

2. Lucy Cramsey

She was part of the problem early on with some ill-advised turnovers, but was also part of the reason why the Lady Hawks pulled away in the second half. She, too, set a career high with 21 points. She had four steals and five rebounds to offset a team-high five turnovers.

3. Felisha Loggins

Part of her addition here is a carryover from her strong play on Thursday night when she tied a career high with nine rebounds in the team’s win at Missouri-St. Louis. Loggins had eight rebounds, including seven offensive. She had six offensive boards in the first half to help the Lady Hawks keep possessions alive when they were struggling on offense.

DOBservations

Senior Darla Gatschenberger, who suffered an injury to her nose on Thursday, came out wearing a protective mask on Saturday. She looked like Chicago Bulls guard Rip Hamilton, but was missing Hamilton’s trademark headband. … Seniors Daryle Goldie and Renite Bunte dressed out for the game, but they weren’t cleared to play. They were suited up for photos that will be used during Thursday’s senior night festivities. … With the win, the Lady Hawks secured a first-round bye in the GLVC Tournament. They can wrap up the GLVC West crown with a win over Illinois-Springfield on Thursday. … Fans might notice a different look for QU assistant Nathan Daume. His beard continues to grow each week. Daume has told the Lady Hawks he won’t shave again until they lose. He’s been growing it out since the team’s loss at UIS on Jan. 16. That’s a 10-game beard growth.

The Hawks’ hopes of winning the GLVC West Division took a serious blow when UMSL’s Troy Long made a short jumper from the left baseline with three-tenths of a second left.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s stars:

1. Justin Brock

Even though he was the center of UMSL’s attention on defense, the Liberty product still managed to produce his fourth straight 20-point game. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. It’s the 19th double-double of his QU career.

2. Josh McCoy

While the Hawks kept much of their defensive focus on Long, who finished with just nine points, McCoy was able to get some great looks from behind the 3-point arc and drilled four treys as part of his team-high 18-point performance. He made two 3-pointers during a spurt in the middle of the second half that helped the Tritons open a nine-point lead.

3. Scott Hahn

The freshman was in the right spot at the right time all night long for QU. He finished with 11 points for his ninth double-digit scoring game of the season. He added six rebounds and made three key steals. Hahn also had two assists.

DOBservations

The Hawks played without junior Ryan Stuckman, who was out with a knee injury. Stuckman said he hopes to be back in the Hawks’ lineup by Thursday’s regular-season finale against Illinois-Springfield at Pepsi Arena. … The Hawks had a huge group of supporters on hand, including school mascot Victor E. Hawk, who made a cameo appearance before disappearing. … The Hawks’ St. Louis connection of Chris Babbitt, Jordan Wilson and Courtney Belger combined for 17 points. Babbitt lead the way with 10. Belger had a tough night in his final game in his hometown, finishing with six assists, but he also made five turnovers and missed two free throws with QU trailing 56-53 with 1:23 left.