HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.—The Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell behind early and never seriously threatened host Northern Kentucky as the Norse coasted to a 76-58 victory today at the Bank of Kentucky Center in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. 

 

Bellarmine senior Brittany Edelen, who scored 15 of her game high 22 points in the opening period, helped keep the Knights close over the game's opening 10 minutes, but NKU opened up a 13-point lead at halftime. The Norse hit 41.9 percent of their first half shots while holding Bellarmine to just 25 percent shooting in the opening period. 

 

Northern Kentucky (13-6, 7-3) opened strong in the second half extending their lead to 29 as the Knights scored just one point over the first five and a half minutes of the second half.

 

For the game, the Norse outshot the Knights 46.8 percent to 33.3 percent and held a slight 37-35 advantage on the boards.

 

Northern was led by Brandi Rayburn, who scored 21 on nine of 14 shooting, including two of five from 3-point range. 

 

Edelen was the only double-digit scorer for Bellarmine, as Jalissa Chatlos and Destiny Mattingly pitched in eight apiece. Kylie Brady saw her first action since going down with a knee injury on Jan. 4 and scored seven points in just 11 minutes.

 

Bellarmine (11-8, 4-6 GLVC) returns to action Jan. 28 as they travel to Quincy, Ill., to take on the Hawks.

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