ST. LOUIS--The host Maryville University Saints broke open a close game with torrid second half shooting to defeat the Bellarmine University women's basketball team 81-59 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest tonight at Moloney Arena.

After a last-second 3-point attempt rolled in for the Saints to end the first half, Maryville took a 31-30 halftime lead into the locker room. 

Coming out of the break, it looked as if things might swing the Knights' way as Lauren Jones connected on trey to give Bellarmine 33-31 lead.

Maryville answered right back, and the Knights soon found the game slipping away as the Saints kept connecting from long range.  Bellarmine, which entered the contest as one of the nation's top-shooting teams, had the tables turned on them. Maryville hit eight of 11 second half threes as they shot 65.4 from the field in the final period to win the contest going away. 

Bellarmine started the game on solid ground, building a 7-point lead over the first eight minutes. However, the Knights went scoreless for a 6:31 stretch as the Saints came marching back. 

For the game, Maryville hit on 52.7 percent of their shots including 55.2 percent (16-29) from beyond the 3-point line.  Bellarmine, meanwhile, was held to just 41.5 percent shooting and made just eight of 22 3-point tries.

Bellarmine (11-10, 6-7 GLVC) was led by Lauren Jones, who chipped in 16 points.  Maryville (9-12, 4-9 GLVC) got a career 23 points from Kristy Frey to lead the Saints.

The Knights swing back into action on Sunday for a 1 p.m. (ET) game at Missouri S&T.

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