SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—The Bellarmine University women's basketball team scored a 71-61 road victory this afternoon at the University of Illinois-Springfield's TRAC  Center in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest.

In what ended up being a game of runs, the Knights struck first, jumping out to 14-4 lead in the game's first four minutes. The Prairie Stars then countered with a 13-3 run of their own to tie it at the 12:53 mark of the first period. 

The teams played evenly over the next seven minutes before the Knights used a 12-4 run in the opening half's final five and a half minutes to take a 37-30 lead in the locker room.

Bellarmine came out of the intermission and began another run, outscoring the Prairie Stars 16-5 to establish an 18-point lead 53-35 at the 13:19 mark. After a brief run by UIS, the Knights surged ahead by 21 with 9:21 remaining. The Prairie Stars were able to cut into the Knights' lead, but the visitors were able to coast in for the 10-point win.

Brittany Edelen led the Knights with 21 points, and Allison Matheis had a solid performance with 15 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds.

Rachael Follmer led the Prairie Stars with 15 points.

With the win Bellarmine improves to 12-9, 5-7 GLVC, while UIS falls to 2-18, 0-13.

Bellarmine returns to action on Thursday, when the Knights host the Miners of Missouri S&T at 5:45 p.m. in Knights Hall.

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