Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a hard fought conference battle in Kirksville, Mo. on Saturday afternoon, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team dropped an 88-100 double-overtime game to Truman State. Junior forward Morgan Clemons had a spectacular performance, tallying 23 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

The teams combined for 68 personal fouls in a contest that saw both squads hit crucial shots in the waning seconds, and Truman State scratched out the win.

"This team battled and battled and had so much heart," said head coach Chancellor Dugan. "We're right there. We're playing with the best teams in the country on their own floor and competing. We're so close."

The opening minutes of action were evenly matched. Neither team claimed a lead of greater than two points until free throws by senior forward Kelsey Lamb gave Bellarmine a 15-11 lead with 12:15 to play in the first period.

Over the next three minutes, Bellarmine went on a 11-3 run in which the Knights shot 3-for-3 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Clemons made her mark in the run with seven points and an assist over the stretch including an old-fashioned three-point play following a layup.

However, Truman State finished the half on a 9-0 run of their own and tied the game, 38-38, on a three-pointer by senior guard Amy Briggs with five seconds until halftime.

Bellarmine (11-10, 7-6 GLVC) held a 18-14 advantage on the boards in the first period and shot 13-for-27 (48.1 percent) from the field, 2-for-5 from three, and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Truman State (16-5, 10-3 GLVC) shot 14-for-33 (42.4 percent), hit four of their 10 threes and six of their 11 free throws. The Knights turned the ball over nine times in the period to TSU's four.

The squads battled for all 20 minutes of the second half. Bellarmine jumped into an 8-0 run with the scored tied, 51-51, with 11:23 remaining, and pulled the lead out to 59-51 with 8:31 left.

With a seven point Bellarmine lead with 5:54 remaining, the Bulldogs forced their way into another late game run. Eight straight points by Truman State gave TSU an important one point advantage with 1:16 until the final buzzer.

With Bellarmine trailing by three points, 67-70, with 11 seconds to play, freshman guard Destony Curry fired a shot from 30 feet and drilled it with five seconds left, tying the game in dramatic fashion. A Truman State three-pointer at the buzzer was no good and the teams headed to overtime.

Both teams shot under 40 percent in the second half, Bellarmine at 10-for-28 (35.7 percent) and the Bulldogs with a 9-for-24 (37.5 percent) mark. Bellarmine doubled Truman State's rebounding total in the second period, 22-11 but had 11 turnovers. Truman State had eight giveaways.

Overtime was just as tight. The Knights held a three-point lead, 80-77, after a pair of important free throws by Clemons, but, as Bellarmine did at the end of regulation, a three-pointer by Briggs tied the game 80-80 with seven seconds, and the teams would need five more minutes to settle it.

The second overtime period was all Bulldogs. Clemons, sophomore center Jennifer Smith, and sophomore guard Mackenzie Martinez fouled out in the period and Bellarmine went cold, missing five of their eight shots, including all three three-point attempts, and BU turned the ball over four times. The Knights were outscored 20-8 in the second overtime as Truman State hit 15 of their 16 free throws in the period.

Bellarmine finished 28-for-73 (38.4 percent) from the floor and 6-for-17 (35.3 percent) from three. Truman State shot went 28-for-67 (41.8 percent) from the field and 8-for-22 (36.4 percent) from three.

Bellarmine was whistled for 37 fouls in the game and went 26-for-38 (68.4 percent) from the free throw line on 31 Truman State fouls. The Knights' foul and free throw totals were both season highs for Bellarmine. Truman State hit 36 of their 46 free throws in the contest. In a tightly called contest, the teams combined for 68 fouls and eight players fouled out in the contest, four for each team.

The Knights turned the ball over 25 times in the game which led to 23 points off turnovers for the Bulldogs. Truman State turned it over just 13 times and Bellarmine converted them into nine points. Bellarmine dominated in the paint, outrebounding Truman State 52-31. The Knights grabbed 21 offensive rebounds and scored 36 points in the paint.

Four different Bellarmine players scored in double-figures in the loss, with three setting new career-highs. Clemons' 23-point performance was a career best for the junior and her 14 rebounds was one short of her career high. Smith scored a career-best 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and Curry nailed all three of her three-pointers en route to her 13 points, the best of her career. Senior guard Therese Montano scored six points and dished a game-high eight assists.

Despite the loss, Dugan expressed her satisfaction in the Knights' performance.

"I'm excited about this team and about what the rest of this season has in store. We're a young team and this has been trial by fire for this bunch, but this will get us ready for postseason play."

The Knights will come home to Knights Hall for conference games against Missouri-St. Louis on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:45 p.m. and then will welcome Maryville at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15.