Mount Mercy finished the first half with a 12-0 run Thursday night and defeated Viterbo, 64-52, in the quarterfinals of the Midwest Collegiate Conference women's basketball tournament at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs (18-13) will play at St. Ambrose in the semifinals Saturday at 2 p.m.

Mount Mercy was clinging to a 25-23 in the first half when they caught fire and scored 12 straight points for a 37-23 cushion at intermission. Danielle Herdliska and Ashley Dolan scored five points apiece during the decisive spurt.

The Mustangs opened a 43-27 lead in the second half and won comfortably.

Abby Herb led Mount Mercy with 16 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. Alisa Weiland scored 10 points for the Mustangs. Christa Oldham had six points, six rebounds and five assists. Makenzie Zeitler contributed seven points and eight rebounds.

Jenna Engh and Whitney Hanson scored 14 points apiece for Viterbo (8-23).

VITERBO (52): Hattamer 1 0-0 2, Ostrander 3 2-2 9, Engh 5 2-3 14, Hanson 6 2-2 14, Busse 3 0-0 9, Lautz 0 0-0 0, Huebner 0 0-0 0, Koch 1 0-0 2, Stanek 0 0-0 0, Lorenz 0 0-0 0, Geiser 0 2-2 2.

MOUNT MERCY (64): Herb 8 0-0 16, Herdliska 1 4-4 7, Oldham 3 0-1 6, Weiland 3 2-2 10, Zeitler 2 2-2 7, Timms 3 2-3 8, Sexton 0 0-0 0, Last 1 0-0 3, Dolan 3 0-1 7. Totals 24 10-13 64.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 37, Viterbo 23. 3-point goals - Viterbo 6 (Busse 3, Engh 2, Ostrander 1), Mount Mercy 6 (Weiland 2, Herdliska 1, Zeitler 1, Last 1, Dolan 1).