LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a brief foray into Great Lakes Valley Conference play, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team returns to non-league action. No matter the classification of the game, the results have been the same thus far.
BU will look to maintain that standard on Friday as the undefeated Knights (5-0) travel to Alderson Broaddus (1-6) for a 5:15 p.m. (ET) contest in Philippi, West Virginia. Bellarmine's 5-0 start is its first since the 2008-09 season.
Bellarmine is coming off an early pit-stop in GLVC play as the Knights opened league competition with a 72-58 win over Illinois Springfield and a 64-49 triumph over McKendree, the latter of which was shown on ESPN3. BU now returns to nonconference matchups for its next three games starting with Midwest Regional foe Alderson Broaddus of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
All of the Battlers' games thus far have been against nonconference opponents. Their lone victory came at home against Point Park, a 92-68 romp. They are coming off an 81-66 road loss to Bowie State on Saturday.
Bellarmine will mark the third opponent from the GLVC for Alderson Broaddus. The Battlers competed in a tournament hosted by Lewis, falling 72-50 to Wisconsin-Parkside and 111-50 to the Flyers.
Rachel Ashley has been a standout for Alderson Broaddus, leading the team in scoring (13.0), rebounding (3.9) and steals (11 total). Sydney Shaffer is a whisker away from averaging double figures (9.9) and has knocked down a team-best 18 3-pointers.
The game will mark Bellarmine's second road outing this season. The Knights traveled to Lee for their second game and prevailed 84-76. They also defeated Bluefield State 96-50 and Kentucky State 77-61 in nonconference clashes at Knights Hall.
Bellarmine's margin of victory over its first five games is close to 20 points. The Knights have been particularly superior thus far at the free throw line — they've made 83 free throws while their opponents have attempted 64 — and the 3-point line — they've drained 36 trifectas to their counterparts' 13. They've also averaged nearly six rebounds more per game than the opposition and forced around four more turnovers per contest.
Junior forward
Sarah Galvin has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in all five games, which is particularly impressive considering she missed all of last season due to injury. Galvin is averaging 18 points and is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.4.
Scoring balance has been an early hallmark of the Knights, who had four double-figure scorers in four of their five outings. In the only one they didn't, they had three plus a nine-point performance. Junior guard
Destony Curry (12.6), sophomore forward
Beth Bowers (11.0), sophomore guard
Raven Merriweather (8.8) and junior guard
Whitney Hartlage (8.4) have helped create that balance.
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Bellarmine (5-0) at Alderson Broaddus (1-6)Date: Friday, December 11
Tip-off: 5:15 p.m. (ET)
Site: Rex Pyles Arena
Radio: 94.7 FM-WFIA (DELAYED UNTIL 7 PM)
Video Live Stats
