BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team kept pace with Western Kentucky on Wednesday for the vast majority of the first half, but a late surge by the Lady Toppers before halftime carried over into the second half of their 82-49 victory in E.A. Diddle Arena.
In her first appearance of the season, junior guard
Bailee Harney led Bellarmine (0-2) with 11 points behind a trio of 3-pointers. Sophomore guard
Ashlee Harris added nine points while freshman forward
Lucy Robertson, freshman guard
Claire Knies and junior forward
Danielle Feldkamp grabbed five rebounds apiece for the Knights, who were playing their first-ever Division I road game.
"I was really pleased with the energy we had and how we started," Knights Coach
Chancellor Dugan said. "It was a stark difference from the other night against Ball State."
Western Kentucky (1-3) collected its first win of the season as five Lady Toppers scored in double figures. Most impressive was Hope Sivori, who tallied game highs of 15 points and 11 assists and also had five rebounds. Sivori and Ally Collett combined for seven 3-pointers.
In the first minute and a half, senior forward
Lauren Deel made a pair of baskets to help Bellarmine get settled in their first road environment of the season. While Bellarmine trailed 24-15 after the first quarter, Harris and junior guard
Kathleen Scott buried consecutive 3-pointers early in the second quarter, and the Knights battled back within two at 29-27 with 2:32 left before halftime.
However, Western Kentucky regained momentum with a 10-0 run leading into the intermission.
"We got within two and had some unforced mistakes," Dugan said, "and they capitalized."
Bellarmine got within single digits early in the third quarter, but Western Kentucky managed to extend its lead to 20 heading into the fourth.
Bellarmine will host Western Illinois at noon (ET) Saturday at Freedom Hall.
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