LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- For the second time in as many games, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell late, as they dropped a 58-55 heartbreaker to the William Jewell Cardinals on Saturday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The loss drops Bellarmine to an even 6-6 on the year and 0-4 in conference play while William Jewell improves to 7-3 and 2-2 in the GLVC. The Knights were without two starters in the game as Kylie Brady and Therese Montano sat out with injuries.

A back and forth contest, both teams played tough defense throughout as neither team led by more than six points.  William Jewell headed into the break up by just two, 24-22, with both teams struggling with their shooting. Bellarmine connected on just 9-31 (29.0%) while the visitors from Liberty, Mo. where not much better, going 8-24 (33.3%) from the floor.

With just one minute remaining in the game, the Cardinals held a five point lead at 56-51, but the Knights came back with a three by Kylee Hamilton and a free throw from Betsy Goodin to draw within one. Down one with 16 seconds left Bellarmine was forced to foul to extend the game. The strategy looked to be a success as Chelsea Meeks missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Cassy Nicole flew in the pull down the rebound then hit the ensuing free throws after she as fouled.

Bellarmine had a chance to send the game into overtime, as Hamilton had a clean look at a three-pointer, but her show would hit off the back iron as the buzzer sounded with Cardinals surviving for the victory. Goodin led Bellarmine with 17 points as junior Rachel Greenwell scored a career high 10 points off the bench. William Jewell placed three players in double-figures, led by Meeks's 18.

The Knights will now look to regroup and get healthy before hitting the road next week, traveling to Drury on Thursday and Missouri S&T on Saturday.

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