Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following an 18-day hiatus from the hardwood, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team didn't miss a beat as they shut down the Lee University Flames on Thursday night at Knights Hall, 61-55.
 
"This was a good win for us," said head coach Chancellor Dugan. "Lee is a very good team and hopefully this gives us some momentum."
 
The Knights (3-2) got 13 points from sophomore forward Sarah Galvin and 12 points and four assists from sophomore guard Mariah Gador in the win.
 
Bellarmine's stingy defense held Lee to 27 points below their season average and after gaining an early first half lead, the Knights would not trail again, sitting on top at the final whistle.
 
With 15:03 remaining in the first half, Bellarmine took a 6-5 lead on a layup by Gador. The teams went back and forth for the next 10 minutes, but BU kept the advantage. Clinging to a 24-21 lead with 4:41 left, Bellarmine sophomore center Jennifer Smith put in a layup to increase the lead to five, 26-21. For the remaining minutes of the period, Bellarmine forced five turnovers and held the high-scoring Flames offense to 1-for-6 shooting. Adding a pair of layups, some free throws, and a three-pointer, BU pushed the lead to 12, 35-23, as the teams went to the locker rooms.
 
The second half started with an 11-0 Lee run over the first 5:36 of the period. Nine missed shots and seven Bellarmine fouls plagued the opening second half minutes for the home side and the game was tied 35-35.
 
The Knights responded, attacking the hoop and capitalizing on nine straight buckets in the paint. Bellarmine would not surrender the lead for the rest of the inter-conference contest as they went on to win by six, 61-55.
 
Sophomore guard Mackenzie Martinez was given the arduous task of guarding Lee University's Hollie German who was named an NAIA First Team All-American last season and is averaging nearly 27 points per game this year. German finished with 20 points, eight of which came from the free throw line, three turnovers, and shot 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) from the field and 2-for-7 (28.6 percent)from behind the arc, both of which were her worst shooting marks of the season.
 
Martinez finished the game with one point, but dished three assists, pulled down three rebounds, and committed no turnovers.
 
For the game, Bellarmine shot 19-for-52 (36.5 percent) and 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) from three. Lee finished 19-for-51 (37.3 percent) from the field and 5-for-18 from behind the arc, continuing Bellarmine's strong three-point defense this season.
 
Junior forward Morgan Clemons played a crucial role in Bellarmine's success, including scoring the go-ahead second half bucket that game the Knights the lead that they wouldn't surrender. Clemons finished the game with eight points, six rebounds, and two assists.
 
"I call [Clemons] my point forward. I can't say enough about what she does every single day," said Dugan.
 
Galvin finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and a steal, her fourth straight game scoring in double figures. A clutch performer, Galvin scored nine straight points for the Knights in the dying minutes of the second half to maintain the BU advantage.
 
Freshman guard Destony Curry finished with nine points and two boards and Smith had her best performance of her career, scoring seven points, grabbing three rebounds and recording two blocks.
 
For Lee (3-2), German had 20 points on 5-for-16 shooting, three assists, and three turnovers. Junior forward Jenna Adams had 21 points, six rebounds, and four steals for the Flames. The rest of the team combined for just 14 points on 7-for-20 shooting.
 
"I'm looking forward to what we can do on Monday," said Dugan.
 
Bellarmine will travel to Union (Tenn.) on Monday, Dec. 16 for a 7 p.m. make-up contest after their initial meeting was postponed due to bad weather.