LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine University team hung tough with the conference leading No. 16 Quincy on Saturday, but ran out of steam and eventually fell 90-70 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The young Knights showed that they were not intimated by the Lady Hawks as junior Lauren Jones opened up the game by hitting a three pointer.

Three pointers would be tough to come by though as Bellarmine shot just 3-14 (21.4%) from long range in the first half but played tough defense as they also held the Lady Hawks to just 4-16 (25.0%) to stay in the game.

The teams battled back and forth as Quincy went into the half leading the Knights 30-26.

Coach David Smith praised his team's toughness against the highly ranked Lady Hawks. “I look at the box score and there are a lot of things that a coach will like. We were active on defense and we rebounded pretty well. We were not scared or intimated.”

The second half was highly contested as Quincy twice jumped out to 10 point leads only to see the Knights claw their way back in.

Bellarmine pulled within three at with 6:20 left after Jones sank two free throws, but from there Quincy showed why they are deserving of their lofty rankings. The Hawks went on a 13-0 run that put the Knights away for good.

Quincy finished the game hitting 16-34 (47.1%) from the three point arc. The 16 three's is a new conference record breaking the previous record of 15 which was held by the 1995 Bellarmine women's team.

“They are a good shooting team, we knew that going into the game,” said Smith. “We needed to contain the basketball and not let the drive and kick it out to their shooters. We didn't contain and they hit their shots.”

Jalissa Chatlos led the Knights as she finished the game with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals. Lauren Jones (15), Therese Montano (14), and Chelsea Hawkins (11) also scored in double figures.

Quincy was led by 25 points from Stephanie Wagner and Daryle Goldie had 18 off the bench.

“As young as this team is, we must recognize that what it takes to pull an upset like this,” said Smith. “Shooting three and hitting free throws are our strength, and those are the two things that we needed to do to beat a team like Quincy.”

Bellarmine will return to action next Thursday when they travel to St. Louis for a 6:30 tipoff against Maryville University.

Box Score