LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team sank its highest amount of 3-pointers this season, and the Knights needed that team-best output more than it appeared they would after the first half.

On Thursday in Knights Hall, Bellarmine built a 22-point halftime lead but ultimately staved off a Quincy comeback with a series of shots from long range in the fourth quarter in a 73-66 victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

"I thought we were doing a really good job on defense," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "We were in the passing lanes and were aggressive, but we let it go in the second half."

Junior guard Mikayla Berry scored a team-high 16 points and drilled four of the team's season-high 10 3-pointers. Berry and sophomore guard Breia Torrens, who scored 15 points for the second straight game, were inserted into the starting lineup and helped provide the scoring punch that allowed Bellarmine (8-4, 2-2 GLVC) to create distance early against Quincy (4-10, 2-3).

Senior center Liza Tibbs and junior forward Mallory Schwartz scored 14 points apiece. The pair also led the Knights in rebounding with six and five apiece. Guards Maddie Spagnola and Aleksandra Petrovic poured in 23 and 19 points, respectively, and led the Hawks' second-half comeback bid.

It was a tale of two halves for Bellarmine. After facing a steep deficit following one period Saturday in a loss at Maryville, the Knights got off to a sizzling start in the first quarter against the Hawks, hitting 71.4 percent of their shots (10 of 14) including four of their six 3-point attempts. Bellarmine then limited Quincy to five points in the second quarter and pushed its advantage to 43-21 at the intermission.

Bellarmine's level of play dropped off significantly in the second half. Quincy outscored the Knights 20-7 in the third quarter to cut its deficit to nine, and it could have been worse if Berry hadn't drained a deep 3-pointer from the left wing at the buzzer. The Hawks then clawed back to within 52-46 with 4:50 left in the contest.

While Bellarmine rarely relies on the 3-pointer, the Knights turned back Quincy with the triple. Torrens sandwiched a pair of trifectas around a long-range bomb by Schwartz. Compliments of Torrens, the Knights' third straight 3-pointer boosted the lead back to 10 with 2:51 remaining.

In the opening quarter, Berry started the scoring with a 3-pointer and Schwartz gave Bellarmine its first double-digit lead at 19-7 after sinking a triple. The Knights then held Quincy scoreless over the final 5:08 of the second quarter, reeling off a 9-0 run in that span in amassing a 22-point lead at the break.

Bellarmine hosts Truman State at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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