EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Michigan Tech needed one final rally, and the Bellarmine University women's basketball team refused to allow that to happen.

In a game featuring major swings in momentum, the Knights commanded the fourth quarter in opening the USI Thanksgiving Classic with a 73-60 victory Saturday over the Huskies at the Physical Activities Center.

Junior forward Mallory Schwartz paced Bellarmine (4-0) with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists while sophomore forward Lauren Deel contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals against Midwest Region counterpart Michigan Tech (3-2), which was predicted to finish second in the GLIAC North Division. Senior center Liza Tibbs tallied 10 points and six rebounds, and junior forward Allison Van Dyke chipped in eight points and six rebounds.

Bellarmine held a double-digit advantage in each of the first three quarters, but Michigan Tech continuously had a response. The Knights surged out to a 13-0 lead in the first before the Huskies cut their deficit to four by the end of the period. Bellarmine built a 12-point cushion in the second quarter, but the Knights only led 29-27 at halftime. Bellarmine then went up 10 in the third quarter, but Michigan Tech stormed back again, even taking a brief lead in the frame.

Bellarmine closed the third strong. The Knights took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by freshman guard Kathleen Scott and then junior guard Katie Downey spotted Schwartz for a layup and her steal led to a jumper by junior center Ally Mayhaus for a 51-46 advantage after three periods.

Downey started the scoring in the fourth quarter with a layup as Bellarmine led 53-46. After Michigan Tech answered, Downey started a pivotal 7-0 run with a basket that was followed by a 3-pointer from freshman guard Bailee Harney.

The Huskies never recovered from that blow, getting no closer than eight the rest of the way. Schwartz drained a 3-pointer and found Tibbs for a lay-in as the Knights boosted their lead to 15 with a little under 3 minutes remaining.

Bellarmine hit eight of its 11 shots in the fourth quarter and shot 49.2 percent for the game while holding Michigan Tech to 41.8 percent. The teams combined for 49 turnovers, but the Knights helped offset their miscues with a 41-30 rebounding advantage. Scott collected four steals, and Mayhaus added three.

Bellarmine will meet Lake Erie at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday in Evansville, Indiana, on the final day of the USI Thanksgiving Classic.

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