SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The beginning of Great Lakes Valley Conference play brought the return of a closely contested game for the No. 5 Bellarmine University women's basketball team.

On a Thursday night in which they were their own worst enemy due to a plethora of turnovers, the visiting Knights made several key defensive stops down the stretch to preserve a 66-63 win over Illinois Springfield.

Senior forward Sarah Galvin recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds for Bellarmine (7-0, 1-0 GLVC), while junior guard Raven Merriweather also scored 13 points and has reached double figures in every game thus far. Senior guard Destony Curry and junior forward Beth Bowers chipped in nine points apiece as Bellarmine fought off a gritty effort from Illinois Springfield (3-2, 0-1).

Bellarmine was coming off three straight victories of 16 points or more, but the Knights opened the season with three contests decided by three points or less, including two overtime affairs. Thursday's game was yet another tight encounter, as the Knights led 61-60 with 2:45 left after the Prairie Stars rallied from 14 points down.

Galvin and Merriweather gave Bellarmine some cushion by hitting two free throws apiece for a 65-60 lead. The Knights followed by turning the ball over on three consecutive possessions and had 22 overall, but the defense shut out the Prairie Stars over the final 2:08. A steal and a block by senior guard Kelsey Adwell were critical inside the final minute.

Bellarmine overcame a slow start in which it trailed 11-2 to lead 14-12 after one quarter. An Adwell 3-pointer pushed the advantage to 11 in the second period before the Knights led 34-27 at the intermission after Galvin's putback with 1 second left.

A traditional three-point play by freshman guard Mikayla Berry increased Bellarmine's lead to 14 in the third quarter. UIS responded but Bowers sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Knights up 10 heading into the fourth quarter. A 6-0 run by the Prairie Stars to start the final period set the stage for a tight finish.

Syerra Cunningham had 19 rebounds and 11 points for UIS, while Shelbi Patterson scored 18 points. The Prairie Stars had a 25-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Bellarmine continues GLVC play at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at McKendree.

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