ASHLAND, Ohio. — Senior forward
Beth Bowers scored a career-high 23 points, but the Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell 111-68 to No. 1 Ashland on Saturday at Kates Gymnasium in the Knights' final nonconference game of the regular season.
Bowers sank 10 of her 13 shots and added a team-best eight rebounds for Bellarmine (6-5). Her 23 points were a game high. Ashland (13-0), the defending Division II national champion, extended its winning streak to 50 games, which is one shy of the DII record set by Washburn (Jan. 26, 2005-March 11, 2006).
Bowers was the only Bellarmine player to reach double figures in the scoring column. Sophomore forward
Mallory Schwartz had seven points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals while sophomore forward
Allison Van Dyke chipped in seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Junior center
Liza Tibbs and freshman guard
Whitney O'Mara had eight points each.
Ashland entered the contest ranked second in the nation in scoring offense at 98.9 points per game, and the Eagles bested that mark with their third consecutive outing reaching 100 points and sixth overall. Laina Snyder led six Eagles in double figures with 21 points.
Bellarmine led 5-0 when Tibbs spotted Bowers for a layup and Schwartz for a 3-pointer, but from there it was all Ashland. Utilizing a devastating press and relentless halfcourt defense, the Eagles forced the Knights into 25 turnovers in the first half and capitalized with 27 points off the miscues. Ashland led 30-13 after the first period and 56-25 at halftime.
Bellarmine's 36 total turnovers were 17 more than its previous season high. The result was that Ashland attempted 22 more shots than the Knights, and the Eagles were sharp in that area, hitting 55 percent from the field. Led by Snyder, who scored 19 points in the first half, the Eagles racked up 68 points in the paint for the game.
Bellarmine's schedule shifts exclusively to Great Lakes Valley Conference contests for the remainder of the regular season. The Knights host Maryville at 5:45 p.m. (ET) Thursday.
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