LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sophomore guard Katie Downey whipped a pass underneath the basket to sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz, who stuck the easy lay-in. Big smiles from the two followed.

The grin-inspiring play capped the second quarter and perfectly summed up the Bellarmine University women's basketball team's 96-48 pounding of regional foe Alderson Broaddus on Saturday at Knights Hall.

Every Bellarmine player scored and four were in double digits. Senior guard Raven Merriweather paced the Knights (3-0) with 19 points, sophomore guard Mikayla Berry drilled five 3-pointers in scoring 17, sophomore forward Allison Van Dyke added 12 and eight rebounds, and Downey chipped in 10 points.

Schwartz, Downey and freshman guard Whitney O'Mara had four steals apiece against Alderson Broaddus (0-1) as the Knights amassed 16 thefts. In addition to the steals, Schwartz contributed nine rebounds, eight points and three assists against no turnovers.

Bellarmine's dominance showed in most every statistical category. As far as advantages, the Knights owned them in points in the paint (34-16), points off turnovers (31-10), second-chance points (27-12), fast-break points (17-0) and bench scoring (39-15). O'Mara and freshman guard Breia Torrens had four assists apiece and the Knights amassed 24 helpers overall.

The first quarter was a bit shaky for Bellarmine, but the Knights still managed a 15-8 lead. Bellarmine really turned it on in the second quarter as the Knights converted 13 of their 18 shots for a 72.2 percent output from the field in the period. The result was a 45-18 lead at halftime.

Bellarmine racked up 28 more points in the third quarter highlighted by 11-of-12 accuracy from the charity stripe. The Knights' fourth quarter resembled their second period as they knocked down 9-of-13 shots in shooting 69.2 percent.

Bellarmine shot 57.1 percent from the field for the game and 80 percent (16 of 20) from the free-throw line. The Knights limited Alderson Broaddus to 30.5 percent shooting and forced the Battlers into 22 turnovers.

The Knights will host Northern Michigan on Nov. 25 and Grand Valley State on Nov. 26 in the Bellarmine Thanksgiving Classic.

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