LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senior guard Breia Torrens made her much-anticipated return and scored a game-high 19 points for the Bellarmine University women's basketball team Saturday in Freedom Hall, but Western Illinois came away with a 79-57 victory over the Knights.

Torrens, who had missed the first two games, sank a trio of 3-pointers and had four rebounds and two steals in her season debut for Bellarmine (0-3). Senior forward Lauren Deel canned 5-of-9 shots in scoring 12 points against the Leathernecks (1-6), while freshman forward Lucy Robertson corralled seven rebounds and sophomore guard Ashlee Harris dished out five assists.

"We're getting better every game," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "Once we get the opportunity to consistently get on the practice floor, we're going to be able to put a lot more wrinkles in on defense and start running the offense the way we need it to run."

Bellarmine began with promise as Torrens sank a 3-pointer to give the Knights a 10-4 lead approximately six minutes into the first quarter, but Western Illinois closed the opening period on a 10-0 run. After the Leathernecks led by 12 early in the second quarter, Torrens triggered a 9-0 run with a shot from deep as the Knights trailed by only three.

Bellarmine's deficit remained there with less than three minutes remaining before halftime, but Western Illinois again closed a quarter strong, running off a 12-2 run leading into the intermission for a 38-25 advantage.

"I thought we had four or five really good looks in the second quarter when we had come back and could have taken a lead and just didn't convert," Dugan said. "Those are the things we have to clean up."

Western Illinois maintained its momentum in the third quarter and led by 20 roughly two minutes into the period. The Leathernecks nearly had two double-doubles. Danni Nichols posted 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Evan Zars had 16 and nine. Sam Pryor nailed four of the team's 10 3-pointers accounting for her 12 points.

Bellarmine has a 10-day layoff before its next game. The Knights will play Dec. 29 at Evansville.

"Over this break, I think the kids will be very motivated," Dugan said. "It's coming from them, and that's exciting to see. They know they haven't played their best basketball."

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