LEXINGTON, Ky.--The Bellarmine University women's basketball team faced a formidable opponent tonight as they traveled to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in an exhibition game at Memorial Coliseum, where the host school posted an impressive 107-57 victory over the Knights.

A year ago, Bellarmine gave Kentucky all it wanted as the Cats scratched out a 3-point win, but tonight's game was a different story. Kentucky pounced on the Knights with a swarming defense that produced 34 Bellarmine turnovers and a first-half scoring drought that lasted eight and a half minutes. During the dry spell, Kentucky outscored Bellarmine 20-0, and went into halftime with a comfortable 49-23 margin.

After the break, Bellarmine took care of the ball a little better, but still didn't have an answer to the Wildcats' firepower. Kentucky capitalized on 57 percent second half shooting to extend the lead over Bellarmine with the final margin being the Wildcats' biggest lead of the night.

Kentucky's Victoria Dunlap led all scorers with 22 on 11 of 16 shooting.  A trio of Knights hit double figures with sophomores Kylie Brady and Melissa Fitz leading the way with 13, and Betsy Goodin came off the bench to record 10 points.

Tonight's game marked the return to Kentucky for Bellarmine senior Brittany Edelen, who played for the Wildcats her first three years. The Springfield, Ky., native got a warm reception from the Memorial Coliseum crowd before collecting four points and chasing down five rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

Bellarmine now moves into the regular season and will open on the road at Kentucky State on Nov. 16.  The next night they open at home with a 7 p.m. contest against Wilberforce.

BOX SCORE