LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A grizzled veteran and a fresh-faced rookie pushed the Bellarmine University women's basketball team to victory Thursday at Knights Hall.

Senior guard Raven Merriweather and freshman forward Lauren Deel combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter as Bellarmine rallied in the final frame to post a 61-54 win over Maryville in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Merriweather tallied 15 of her 19 points in the second half to lead Bellarmine (7-5, 2-1 GLVC), while Deel scored all 11 of her points after the intermission in tying a season high. While no other Knights scored in double figures against Maryville (4-6, 1-3), senior forward Beth Bowers and junior center Liza Tibbs had eight rebounds apiece as BU won the battle of the boards 46-31.

Coach Chancellor Dugan recorded her 99th career victory at Bellarmine.

Interior play proved crucial for Bellarmine. The Knights owned a 40-16 advantage in points in the paint. That output tempered the plus-eight advantage Maryville carried at the 3-point line. The Saints fired 33 shots from behind the arc, hitting nine, while the Knights attempted only 10 trifectas, sinking just one.

Bellarmine cut a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to three by the end of the stanza, but Maryville opened the fourth with a 3-pointer. The Knights then took control with a 13-1 sparked by Deel, who scored the first seven points in the spurt to tie the game before her block on the defensive end led to a go-ahead jumper by Merriweather for a 44-42 advantage with 6:47 left.

Bellarmine led the rest of the way. Sophomore guard Katie Downey had a key basket with 2:14 left when Maryville was within three. The Knights maintained at least a five-point cushion from there, with freshman guard Breia Torrens whipping a sideline inbounds pass to Merriweather for a layup with 34 seconds left to help sew up the win.

Merriweather scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Deel chipped in seven in the period. Deel overcame foul trouble to score her 11 points in only 14 minutes. Merriweather also had seven rebounds and three steals, and Downey delivered a game-best four assists.

Ali Ringering scored a game-high 23 points for Maryville, and Kayla Steward contributed 11 points. Bellarmine limited the Saints to 30 percent shooting while the Knights shot 42.9 percent. Deel guided the Knights to a 21-2 advantage in bench points.

Bellarmine plays at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at William Jewell.

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