LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team didn't showcase one of its primary strengths. But the Knights sure did display two others for everyone to see.

Behind deft passing and relentless work on the boards, Bellarmine rolled to an 85-65 victory Thursday over Saint Joseph's at Knights Hall in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Junior forward Sarah Galvin hit 7-of-8 shots from the floor and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in pouring in a game-high 24 points for Bellarmine (14-2, 8-2 GLVC), which shot 51.6 percent in the second half and 48.4 percent overall. Freshman center Ally Mayhaus scored a career-high 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while junior guard Whitney Hartlage nailed four 3-pointers in also scoring 14 points.

Bellarmine, which boasts the GLVC's highest-scoring offense, exceeded 80 points for the sixth time this season. Perhaps surprisingly, the Knights piled up that output against Saint Joseph's (13-7, 6-4) without exploiting one of their staples — points off turnovers, which the Pumas actually led 18-11.

But Bellarmine also leads the GLVC in assists, and the Knights carved up the Pumas' defense by distributing 25 helpers on 31 made field goals. In addition, BU tops the league in offensive rebounding, and the Knights attacked the boards for 19 of those that led to 15 second-chance points. Bellarmine finished with a commanding 46-22 advantage in rebounding.

The majority of the contest was competitive, although Bellarmine never lost control. Saint Joseph's was within nine with 5:14 left, but the Knights closed the game on a 10-0 run to add an exclamation point to the victory.

Bellarmine led from wire to wire. Mayhaus got going quickly, sticking a layup off a feed from Hartlage and draining a jumper. Hartlage then drilled a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter alone as the Knights led 22-17.

Mayhaus and Galvin began owning the paint in the second quarter as Bellarmine's lead swelled to 14, but Saint Joseph's regrouped to trail 40-32 at halftime. Of BU's 15 first-half field goals, 14 came off assists.

It was that unselfish play — plus the assault on the boards — that kept Saint Joseph's at bay. Galvin's layup put Bellarmine up by 13 with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter, and the Knights maintained that advantage heading into the fourth period.

Once there, Bellarmine's lead never dwindled below nine, as sophomore guard Raven Merriweather scored three straight baskets and Hartlage sank her fourth 3-pointer to fend off the Pumas' final push. Merriweather registered six steals.

Lauren Davis led Saint Joseph's with 17 points, Courtney Kvachkoff added 16 and Kalea Parks chipped in 12.

Bellarmine will host Indianapolis at 5:45 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).

BOX SCORE (HTM)