LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With ESPN in the building, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team played in front of a different audience. What didn't change was the Knights' performance.

Balanced scoring and a dominant third quarter — themes thus far for the Knights — led to a commanding 64-49 victory Saturday over McKendree in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Knights Hall.

Junior forward Sarah Galvin registered a game-high 18 points for the undefeated Knights (5-0, 2-0 GLVC), who posted their fourth double-digit win in five contests. Galvin has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in each outing. She also had six rebounds against McKendree (1-6, 0-2).

In a game shown on ESPN3, junior guard Whitney Hartlage sank a trio of 3-pointers in scoring 13 points, while sophomore guard Raven Merriweather and sophomore forward Beth Bowers chipped in 11 points apiece. Freshman center Ally Mayhaus grabbed eight rebounds and tallied four assists. Senior guard Mackenzie Martinez added four assists and four steals, while sophomore forward Brooke Valentine hauled in eight rebounds in nine minutes of action.

McKendree opened the scoring with a free throw, but the Knights wouldn't trail again after Hartlage canned a jumper. Bellarmine led by three after the first quarter but started to take control in the second period with a 17-4 run sparked by 3-pointers from Merriweather and Galvin.

Then came the third quarter, which Bellarmine has owned this season. The Knights outscored the Bearcats 15-4 in the frame to build a 51-29 advantage. BU has now outscored its opponents 97-57 in third periods this season.

Bellarmine held a 39-30 advantage in rebounding and pulled down 13 offensive rebounds. The Knights and Bearcats had similar field-goal percentage numbers, but BU hit four more 3-pointers and sank 8-of-12 free throws while McKendree was 3 of 8 from the charity stripe.

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BOX SCORE (HTM)