SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team will be watching the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament from home. And for the best of reasons.

On Saturday at the Recreation and Athletic Center, the 25th-ranked Knights clinched a first-round bye in the GLVC Tournament with a convincing 73-53 victory over Illinois Springfield.

Junior forward Sarah Galvin had 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals for Bellarmine (20-3, 14-3), which secured its first 20-win season since gaining 20 in 2007-08 when the Knights needed 32 games to accomplish the feat. They required a mere 23 this season. The 14 GLVC wins is the most since achieving that number in 2004-05 when the Knights played 20 conference games — they play only 18 now.

In addition, Bellarmine clinched second place in the GLVC East. It's the first time the Knights have finished that high since the GLVC split into divisions starting in the 2005-06 season. BU finished second in 2003-04 when the conference was division-less and consisted of 11 teams.

"That's exciting," BU Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "To start where we were four years ago to where we are now, it's a credit to our players and the assistant coaches."

Sophomore guard Raven Merriweather had 13 points and eight rebounds for Bellarmine, which won its fourth-straight game and seven of its last eight. Junior guard Whitney Hartlage chipped in 13 points and three assists, junior guard Destony Curry added 10 points and senior guard Mackenzie Martinez contributed six assists and three steals.

Merriweather canned a 3-pointer for a 9-6 lead that Bellarmine would never lose. The Knights led 13-9 after the first quarter, 31-17 at halftime and 54-39 after three quarters. The Prairie Stars cut their deficit to 10 in the last period, but the Knights sealed the win with a 9-0 run.

Led by Galvin, Bellarmine outscored UIS 42-24 in the paint. The Knights committed 16 turnovers but the Prairie Stars registered 24, with BU leading points off turnovers 21-8. Bellarmine also won the battle of the boards, 46-36, including 22 offensive rebounds, just one off its season high.

Syerra Cunningham had 22 points and 16 rebounds for UIS, while Meredith Marti hit five 3-pointers in scoring 17 points.

Bellarmine closes the regular season Thursday at Southern Indiana. BU won the first meeting between the two teams, 65-61, at Knights Hall.

Lewis and Drury have clinched GLVC East and West titles, respectively. Four teams earn first-round byes in the GLVC Tournament. Quincy and Truman State are both 13-4 in conference play and meet on Thursday, so Bellarmine has secured a spot in the top four even if it falls to the Screaming Eagles.

"Let's keep this rolling," Dugan said. "Let's get (win number) 21 on Thursday."

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