LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Northern Michigan used a decisive advantage from the free-throw line and capitalized on a cold shooting performance from the Bellarmine University women's basketball team in a 63-55 victory over the Knights on Saturday in Knights Hall.

In the team's first game in the Bellarmine Thanksgiving Classic, freshman forward Lauren Deel was a standout for the Knights (3-1) after scoring 11 points with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Sophomore guard Mikayla Berry tied Deel for team-high scoring honors against Northern Michigan (4-2) with 11 points and added three steals. Senior guard Raven Merriweather chipped in 10 points and five rebounds while junior center Liza Tibbs had eight points on 4-of-4 shooting and freshman guard Breia Torrens matched her with eight points.

Bellarmine racked up 11 steals and forced Northern Michigan into 21 turnovers while committing a respectable 12. The Knights had a 21-2 advantage in points off turnovers, outscored the Wildcats 24-18 in the paint, were even in offensive rebounds — 10 each — and hit just one less 3-pointer — five to six.

Northern Michigan, however, blocked nine shots and sank 19-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe while Bellarmine was perfect in only six opportunities. Darby Youngstrom paced the Wildcats with 17 points and Elizabeth Lutz added 15 as the two combined to go 15 of 17 from the line. Erin Honkala hauled in 15 rebounds, blocked five shots and had six steals.

Bellarmine led 18-16 after the first quarter, 33-27 at halftime and 45-42 after three periods. Northern Michigan took the lead for good with 7:47 left on a layup by Lexi Smith.

With 4:31 remaining, Bellarmine was within 52-51 after a jumper by Berry, but Northern Michigan closed the game on an 11-4 run. The Knights had a pair of critical turnovers and a missed layup, and Honkala added a key block where the Wildcats gained possession, all of which contributed to Northern Michigan pulling away in the waning minutes.

Northern Michigan was particularly shrewd from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, sinking all 12 of its shots. Both teams struggled from the floor, with the Wildcats shooting 42.2 percent while the Knights shot 36.7 percent.

Bellarmine will host Grand Valley State at 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday in its second and final game of the Thanksgiving Classic.

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