By DON O'BRIEN

Herald-Whig Sports Editor

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Somehow, somewhere the Quincy University women's basketball team avoided a massive collapse Friday afternoon.

The Lady Hawks squandered a big portion of a 20-point lead midway through the second half and later let most of a 14-point edge fade away against second-seeded Hillsdale in a first-round game of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional.

"I think mentally, we lost a little edge there, but we finally got it back," QU junior Jessica Keller said.

A conventional three-point play and two 3-pointers down the stretch helped the Lady Hawks pull away for an 82-73 victory at Weiser Gym.

QU (20-9) will meet third-seeded Missouri Science & amp; Technology in a 6 p.m. semifinal game today. S & amp;T beat sixth-seeded Michigan Tech 75-66 in another quarterfinal.

"When they did cut it two, I think we showed some composure and maturity at that point," QU coach JD Gravina said. "We could have very easily let them keep that run going, but we got it together, settled down, and made some things happen."

A 3-pointer by Julie Slot pulled the Chargers (23-5) within 69-67 with 4:45 to play. After Keller missed the front end of a one-and-bonus free throw opportunity, Hillsdale had a chance to tie or take the lead. Slot misfired on a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

On the Lady Hawks' next possession, Michaela Young took a feed from Lindsey Stellflue and made a basket in the right block. She was fouled on the play and converted on the free throw for a 72-67 QU lead with 3:41 remaining.