LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four players scored in double figures as the Bellarmine University women's basketball team rolled to a 73-57 victory over Kentucky State in a nonconference game Saturday afternoon in Knights Hall.
The double-digit point producers reflected the nice inside-outside scoring blend of Bellarmine (4-3). Sophomore forward
Alisha Owens scored 14 points and junior forward
Lauren Deel collected 13, while junior guards
Tasia Jeffries and
Breia Torrens tossed in 15 and 10, respectively, against Kentucky State (4-4). Owens and Deel combined to go 9 of 17 from the field and 9 of 11 from the charity stripe. Jeffries sank six of her nine shots, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Senior guard
Mikayla Berry racked up a career-high eight assists. Jeffries collected four steals and senior forward
Mallory Schwartz tallied eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Bellarmine had 13 thefts and, in total, forced 28 Kentucky State turnovers, capitalizing with 23 points off the takeaways.
Owens came off the bench to give Bellarmine a big lift and 21-9 lead after one quarter by hitting all three of her shots and both free throws in the period. Midway through the second quarter, Kentucky State cut the deficit to 24-21, but the Knights responded with a 16-2 run to take a commanding halftime lead.
Bellarmine had three three-point plays during the burst. Two were of the old-fashioned variety, as Schwartz and Owens made shots while getting fouled and nailed their free throws. Jeffries also buried a 3-pointer as the Knights distanced themselves from the Thorobreds.
Kentucky State cut an 18-point Bellarmine lead in the third quarter to nine with 8:29 left in the final period, but once again the Knights had a strong counter, ripping off a game-sealing 12-0 run that began with a traditional three-point play by Deel.
Erica Jones scored a game-high 18 points for Kentucky State and Carnethia Brown added 10.
Bellarmine hosts Embry-Riddle on Dec. 18.
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