LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team dialed up the pressure on defense, and the Knights' lead just kept rising as a result of what ensued.

On Saturday in Knights Hall, opportunistic Bellarmine forced Illinois Springfield into 30 turnovers and consistently turned them into points in coasting to a 90-44 victory over the Prairie Stars in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

"I thought our pressure was just a little too much for them," Bellarmine Coach Chancellor Dugan said.

Freshman guard Breia Torrens posted a career-high 16 points for Bellarmine (13-9, 8-5 GLVC), which has won five of six. Senior guard Raven Merriweather registered a game-high 19 points, sophomore forward Allison Van Dyke added 13 and eight rebounds, sophomore guard Katie Downey distributed eight assists and sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz pulled down eight rebounds.

Bellarmine's pressure defense overwhelmed UIS (10-10, 4-8). The Knights piled up a season-high 18 steals led by five from Torrens and three from freshman forward Lauren Deel. The 30 turnovers Bellarmine forced was two off a season best.

The Knights carried a game-defining 36-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Superior outputs came in other areas as well: 54-18 in points in the paint, 20-2 in fast-break points and 37-20 in bench points. Bellarmine dished out 22 assists while UIS had seven.

"Anytime we get that I'm pleased," Dugan noted of the assist total. "It was a game for everybody to play in. They all played and they all played well."

Bellarmine only led 16-15 after the first quarter, but the Knights closed the second quarter on a 14-1 run to lead 37-20 at halftime. Bellarmine's active press and halfcourt defense didn't allow UIS a field goal over the final 6:19 of the period.

The entire second half was more or less like that second quarter. The Knights led by 20 on a Merriweather layup with 6:24 left in the third, and they went up 31 less than three minutes later on a Deel basket following her steal.

Bellarmine shot 57.6 percent in the second half and 48.6 percent for the game. The Knights limited the Prairie Stars to 29.4 percent shooting. Brianna Mefford led UIS with 10 points.

Bellarmine plays Thursday at McKendree, the start of a four-game road swing.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), Facebook (BUKnights) and the BUKnights mobile app available for iPhone and Android.

BOX SCORE (HTM)
 
HIGHLIGHTS: