Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the last few weeks, multiple members of the Bellarmine University women's basketball team had been stricken with illness. Knights such as freshman standout Beth Bowers are dealing with injury issues. Then there were final exams, impacting everybody on the team.

A lot has been working against Bellarmine to say the least. But the Knights overcame all those impediments to post a hard-fought 80-70 victory Saturday afternoon over visiting Trevecca Nazarene.

"They're tough; I like that and it's always been a hallmark of my teams," BU Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "I like the gritty players. To play for me, you've got to come out and put your work boots on. They get after it, and that's what I really like."

Sophomore guard Whitney Hartlage pumped in a game-high 27 points and freshman guard Raven Merriweather added a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds for BU (5-1), which was playing its only December game at Knights Hall. Junior guard Mariah Gador chipped in 13 points and junior guard Mackenzie Martinez collected 11 behind a perfect and clutch performance at the free throw line.

The victory was Bellarmine's fifth in a row, including two over Trevecca Nazarene (4-5). BU snapped the three-game winning streak of the Trojans, who got 18 points from Christina Curtner, 11 from Helen Mitchner and 10 from Kaci Britt Bell. Trevecca Nazarene only shot 35.6 percent from the field, but the Trojans practically couldn't miss from the charity stripe, sinking 24-of-28 attempts (85.7 percent).

Bellarmine had a similar game. While the Knights had shooting troubles, they managed 42 chances from the charity stripe, making 30 of those attempts. Martinez led the way by draining all nine of her opportunities from the line, including six in the final three minutes to help turn back the comeback bid of the Trojans. In addition to her 11 points, Martinez had six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

"She does such a good job for us," Dugan said of Martinez, one of the Knights who recently was under the weather. "She works so hard for us and expends so much energy. She leads what we want to do and really understands what I want from her."

Bellarmine took a 32-25 advantage at halftime and pushed its lead to 12 with 8:02 left. Trevecca Nazarene methodically clawed back to within 66-64 with 2:40 remaining before Martinez sank a pair of free throws to halt the surge. After Paige Baugher hit one from the charity stripe, Martinez canned another pair for a 70-65 lead with 1:51 left.

Trevecca Nazarene got within three, but Hartlage helped clinch the victory by burying 7-of-8 free throws. The impactful transfer sank nine of her 12 chances from the charity stripe and drilled four 3-pointers. One of those trifectas gave Bellarmine a 21-19 advantage, and the Knights never trailed again. The 27 points for Hartlage was a career high, and she also had six rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore guard Destony Curry and Merriweather followed Hartlage's 3-pointer with one of their own as BU built a 32-21 lead on the strength of a 14-2 run. In addition to making six more free throws than Trevecca Nazarene, Bellarmine netted four more 3-pointers.

Up next for the Knights is two games at Wayne State. Bellarmine plays Wayne State at 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday before a neutral-site meeting with Northwood at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

BOX SCORE (HTM)