LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senior guard Raven Merriweather poured in 27 points, and the Bellarmine University women's basketball team buckled down defensively in the fourth quarter to turn back Kentucky State in a 71-58 victory on Saturday at Knights Hall.

In addition to shining in the points column, Merriweather amassed five rebounds, four assists and three steals for Bellarmine (5-3) against Kentucky State (2-8), which had a single field goal in the final period. Senior forward Beth Bowers had 10 points and five rebounds while junior center Liza Tibbs chipped in nine rebounds, eight points and three blocks. Sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz contributed seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Bellarmine built a 17-point lead with 5:25 left in the second quarter against its nonconference foe, but Kentucky State closed the period on a 15-0 run to trail by a basket at halftime. Brittani Rizzi, who combined with teammate Lyndsey Downing for 10 3-pointers and for team-high scoring honors with 18 points, sank a trey that gave the Thorobrettes a 51-50 lead with 1:04 left in the third.

Bellarmine buckled down after that basket. The Knights took the lead right back after Tibbs dropped off a pass to sophomore forward Allison Van Dyke for a layup. Sophomore guard Katie Downey followed with a baseline jumper as Bellarmine led 54-51 heading into the fourth.

In the final stanza, Bellarmine didn't allow a field goal until the 1:51 mark. It was Kentucky State's only bucket of the final quarter. Merriweather found Tibbs for a short jumper as the Knights opened the frame on an 8-1 run to lead by 10 about four minutes into the period.

Bellarmine led 62-54 with 4:05 left, and Merriweather put the game away by sandwiching a jumper and two free throws around an assist to Van Dyke in a 6-0 run. Merriweather collected her fourth 20-point game of the season, and the Louisville native's 27 was a season high.

Bellarmine struggled mightily from the perimeter — 4 for 23 from 3-point land — but the Knights made up for it in other areas. They forced Kentucky State into 32 turnovers and piled up 35 points off of them. Bellarmine had a 32-14 advantage in points in the paint and 13-3 edge in second-chance points behind a sizable 20 offensive rebounds. Freshman guard Breia Torrens joined Merriweather in tallying three steals, and the Knights accumulated 16 thefts overall.

Kentucky State sank 11 of its 22 attempts from 3-point range, but the Knights limited the Thorobrettes to only three chances from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.

Bellarmine hosts West Virginia State next Saturday.

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