LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team put everything together over the first three quarters Thursday against sixth-ranked Drury, and when things started falling apart in the fourth quarter the Knights banded together.

Senior guard Raven Merriweather poured in 28 points, Bellarmine built a 42-22 halftime lead and the Knights fended off Drury's comeback bid in a stunning 84-70 upset victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at Knights Hall.

"It's pretty sweet," Bellarmine Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "It's a great team win. The players were really locked in. I'm proud of them."

Merriweather's 28 points matched a career high. She was 8 for 13 from the floor and 10 for 10 from the free-throw line for Bellarmine (9-8, 4-4 GLVC), which shot a season-best 61.7 percent against Drury (15-2, 6-1). It was her third straight 20-point game and eighth of the season. The Louisville native added six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Junior center Liza Tibbs contributed 13 points, freshman guard Breia Torrens added a season-high 10 and senior forward Beth Bowers and sophomore guards Mikayla Berry and Katie Downey chipped in eight apiece. Bowers also had six rebounds.

"Raven and Beth, I can't say enough about those two seniors," Dugan said. "Every time we needed a bucket, Raven got a bucket. And Beth played great defense."

Bellarmine dropped three games last season to Drury, and slow starts were a major issue in two of the setbacks. The Knights sure didn't have that problem Thursday. They ripped out to a 25-14 lead after one quarter, and their advantage swelled to 20 at the intermission. Bellarmine continued its charge toward the upset after the break, slightly adding to its lead in the third to wrangle a 64-43 advantage heading into the final period.

Drury, which saw its 13-game winning streak snapped, used a frenetic full-court press in the fourth quarter to rally within 70-64 with 3:43 left. A steal by sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz led to a Merriweather basket and Downey spotted Tibbs on an inbounds pass and the press breaker for buckets to restore an 11-point lead for Bellarmine with 1:44 left. It was the final push the Knights needed to sew up the win.

"The fourth quarter got a little hairy," Dugan said. "I was very pleased with how we bowed our neck and hung on."

Drury was the team on the ropes for the first three quarters. Before the game was four minutes old, Bellarmine had surged to a 16-5 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers by Torrens and Bowers. Schwartz canned another trifecta to cap the period and propel the Knights to a 25-14 advantage.

Berry, who returned from an injury that had sidelined her since Dec. 7, stroked a jumper for a 38-18 lead in the second quarter. The sizzling Knights shot exactly 58.3 percent in each of the first two periods.

And they never cooled off. Bellarmine shot 70 percent in the third quarter and 62.5 percent in the fourth. The Knights were also rock solid from the charity stripe, sinking 21-of-27 attempts for 77.8 percent accuracy.

Alice Heinzler scored 20 points for Drury, which was limited to 42.9 percent shooting by the Knights.

Bellarmine hosts Missouri S&T at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday. The Knights will wear pink jerseys in honor of cancer victims.

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