LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- The Bellarmine University women's basketball team's comeback bid fell short on Sunday afternoon, falling to St. Catharine College 73-70 in the finale of the MetroMedical Solutions Thanksgiving Classic in Knights Hall.

It marks the first blemish on Bellarmine's (4-1) record as the Patriots of St. Catharine move to 9-1 after winning both games in the classic.

The Patriots rattled Bellarmine early, using their length to bother the Knights while jumping out to a 12-3 lead early on. After the initial shock, Bellarmine settled down and took their first lead at 17-16 after Betsy Goodin knocked down a pair of free throws with 9:32 remaining in the half.

Battling back and forth, St. Catharine took the lead going into the locker room, 36-31, hitting six of nine three pointers.

St. Catharine built their lead up to 11 with 9:49 to go in the game on a layup by Kasei Evans. From there the Knights slowly chipped away at the lead, drawing within two, twice in the final minute. But the Patriots knocked down free throws, and Allison Matheis's three from the right corner fell short at the buzzer.

SCC's Jenae Howard was named MVP of the classic, going for 19 points and eight rebounds, after pouring in 32 points and 11 rebounds last night against Southern Indiana.  Evans and Reilley Porier joined Howard on the All-Classic team with Bellarmine's Darion Hutchinson, who had 11 points and 9 rebounds, and Therese Montano, who tied a career high with 23 points.

Bellarmine now gears up for Great Lakes Valley Conference play as they travel to Indianapolis on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

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