LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team didn't let the taste of losing linger for very long.

Two days after suffering their first loss of the season, the Knights built a sizable halftime lead and held off Southern Indiana's rally to post a 65-61 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Monday.

Ranked No. 17 in the Division II Media Poll, Bellarmine (12-1, 6-1 GLVC) got back to its winning ways at Knights Hall against the Screaming Eagles (10-5, 3-4) behind 16 points from junior guard Whitney Hartlage, 12 apiece from junior forward Sarah Galvin and freshman center Ally Mayhaus, and 11 from sophomore guard Raven Merriweather. Mayhaus' total was a career high.

Bellarmine dropped an 83-75 decision to Quincy on Saturday but rebounded Monday to build a 14-9 advantage after one quarter and a 37-18 lead at halftime. Southern Indiana trimmed its deficit to 53-39 after three periods and put a scare into Bellarmine in the fourth quarter.

With 7:17 left, the Screaming Eagles battled back from a 21-point deficit to trail 54-50. In perhaps her best performance yet in her young career, Mayhaus drilled a 3-pointer, sank a free throw and converted a layup off a feed from Galvin to push the Knights' lead back to 10.

USI didn't go quietly. The Screaming Eagles clawed back to within four with 30 seconds left, but Merriweather calmly sank two free throws to help turn back the comeback bid.

Bellarmine created a big cushion in the second quarter with a 13-0 run that lifted its lead to 19. Hartlage got things going by nailing one of her three 3-pointers, and Merriweather followed with three layups, the last of which came off a steal. Junior guard Serena Sandusky spotted Galvin for a basket, and Mayhaus added a bucket with six seconds left as the Knights rolled into halftime.

Led by Mayhaus and Merriweather, Bellarmine outscored Southern Indiana 29-6 in bench points. The Knights forced the Screaming Eagles into 22 turnovers and had a 17-7 advantage in points off turnovers.

Kaydie Grooms paced Southern Indiana with 16 points, Hannah Wascher added 14 and Tanner Marcum chipped in 10.

Bellarmine plays Thursday at Wisconsin-Parkside.

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