LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team probably wouldn't wrap Sunday's victory in a Christmas present but, when you're 8-0 for the first time in over two decades, there was still plenty to celebrate heading into the holiday break.

In the final game of the Bellarmine Classic, BU grinded out a 63-52 win over Northern Michigan at Knights Hall by closing out strong behind a revitalized turn from Classic MVP Sarah Galvin, who pushed the team to an unbeaten record after eight contests for the first time since the 1991-92 season.

Galvin notched her second double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The junior forward has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in every game, but it looked like that impressive personal streak would end Sunday after she got in early foul trouble and struggled to find her flow.

That is, she struggled until the make-or-break point in the fourth quarter. With less than 6:30 remaining, Bellarmine was clinging to a 45-43 lead over Northern Michigan (2-8) when Galvin gathered BU's second offensive rebound of the possession and made the putback while getting fouled.

After converting the traditional three-point play, Galvin took a feed from junior guard Kelsey Adwell and stuck a lay-in after the Wildcats were within three with less than five minutes left. The score remained the same until Galvin made a jumper and then a layup off looks from senior guard Mackenzie Martinez and Adwell for a 56-47 advantage with 2:14 left.

In a roughly four-minute span, Galvin poured in nine of her team-high 12 points as Bellarmine put together a game-clinching 11-4 run. All of the Knights' wins have come by eight points or more.

Junior guard Whitney Hartlage received All-Classic honors and scored 10 points on Sunday, while Martinez added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Adwell hit all three of her shots and finished with nine points and three assists.

Junior guard Destony Curry fed sophomore forward Beth Bowers for a 4-2 advantage, and Bellarmine led from the 6:05 mark in the first quarter until the final buzzer. It was by no means easy, but looked headed in that direction when Hartlage nailed a 3-pointer for an 11-3 lead that ballooned to 24-9 when senior forward Nicole Bryant hit a jumper with 4:38 left before halftime.

Boasting great size and physicality, Northern Michigan didn't wilt and battled back to within 10 at the intermission. When the Wildcats opened the second half with a 6-0 run, the Knights had a game on their hands. Hartlage sank a 3-pointer to put BU up nine with 4:03 left in the third quarter, but Northern Michigan responded by cutting it to 44-39 heading into the final period.

Once there, it was nip and tuck until Galvin asserted herself with help from teammates who continuously looked for her down low despite what would be classified — to that point anyway — as an "off night" for one of the top scorers in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

If there was one statistic that popped off the pages during Bellarmine's sweep in the Bellarmine Classic, which included a 76-52 blowout of Ferris State, it the Knights' utter dominance in points off turnovers. Over the two games, they held a 56-13 superiority over their two opponents. BU forced Northern Michigan into 22 turnovers and scored 25 points off the miscues. Bellarmine had 13 turnovers, but the Wildcats converted them into only four points.

Martinez sank her last five free throws and Adwell knocked down a pair more as Bellarmine hit 14 of 22 from the charity stripe, while Northern Michigan was 5 of 8.

Bellarmine enters into an extended break from play. The Knights are off until they travel to GLVC rival William Jewell on Jan. 7.

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