LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A hot-shooting Raven Merriweather and a healthy-looking Beth Bowers powered the Bellarmine University women's basketball team to a 93-79 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday at Knights Hall in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Bellarmine's senior duo combined for 42 points, and the Knights (4-3, 1-1 GLVC) shot 52.7 percent against Wisconsin-Parkside (4-8, 1-1), which saw its three-game winning streak snapped. Four different players scored in double figures for Bellarmine.

Merriweather sank 11-of-17 shots in scoring a game-high 24 points. Bowers added 18 points on a 7-for-12 outing, junior center Liza Tibbs was 6 for 9 in scoring 12 points and freshman guard Whitney O'Mara hit 5 of 9 in contributing 12 points. Sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz had nine rebounds and three assists. Bowers, who missed significant time in the preseason and in the first six games due to injury, and Merriweather had three steals apiece.

Slow starts plagued Bellarmine in recent games, but the Knights ripped out to a 29-15 lead over the Rangers after one period. Bellarmine was consistent from the field all game, hitting 50 percent or better in each quarter except the fourth when the Knights were a still-solid 47.1 percent. Bellarmine had lopsided advantages in points in the paint (52-20), points off turnovers (23-8), bench points (41-13) and rebounds (38-26 overall, 13-5 offensive).

Wisconsin-Parkside hung around but the Rangers never seriously threatened the Knights after Bellarmine closed the first quarter on a 15-2 run sparked by a Tibbs putback. Merriweather had seven points during the burst and capped a 10-point first period with a jumper as the Knights led by 14.

Schwartz nailed a 3-pointer for a 48-27 lead in the second quarter, and Merriweather maintained the 21-point advantage at the intermission by converting a basket off a steal and feed from Schwartz. All 11 Knights got in the scoring column in the game.

Wisconsin-Parkside kept the contest from being a complete runaway in the second half with impressive 3-point shooting. The Rangers stroked 14 of 29 (48.3 percent) from downtown for the game, including five apiece in the third and fourth quarters. Hayley Maystead and Ali Bettencourt canned four trifectas apiece. Carolina Rahkonen hit a pair of 3s and posted a team-high 21 points.

Wisconsin-Parkside got within 11 on a Rahkonen 3-pointer with 3:15 left in the third, but the Knights responded with a crucial 6-0 run that essentially squashed the comeback bid for good. Bellarmine led 70-55 heading into the fourth, and Wisconsin-Parkside never got closer than 13 in the final period.

Bellarmine shifts into nonconference action as the Knights host Kentucky State at 5 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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