LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There was power in the pink.

On a Thursday night where the Bellarmine University women's basketball team wore pink uniforms in support and recognition of those affected by cancer, the Knights put together one of their best performances of the season in claiming a critical 72-62 victory over visiting Truman State in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

"I was proud of our meddle and heart and what we had inside of us," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said.

Mikayla Berry delivered one of the top showings of her accomplished career at Bellarmine (13-9, 8-7 GLVC) in scoring a season-high 23 points against Truman State (16-6, 12-3), which entered with the second-best record in the league. The senior guard had a perfect shooting night, hitting all eight of her shots — including a trio of 3-pointers — and all four of her free throws.

Bellarmine's first half was something to behold. The Knights stormed into the locker room with a 40-22 lead as they shot 54.8 percent and held a 22-12 advantage on the boards against the GLVC's top rebounding team.

Sophomore forward Alisha Owens scored nine of her 15 points off the bench during a 16-1 run in the second quarter. That spurt was capped by a pair of baskets by Berry and pushed Bellarmine's lead to 18. The Knights held Truman State without a field goal for a stretch of 7:34 in the second period.

A Berry 3-pointer early in the third quarter gave Bellarmine the first of two 24-point leads, but Truman State outscored the Knights 24-9 over the final six minute of the period to get within single digits at 59-50. Katie Jaseckas recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Bellarmine kept Truman State at bay in the fourth. The Bulldogs got within 67-62 with 1:40 left, but a steal by junior guard Breia Torrens led to her free throw. Following the second of two misses by TSU, sophomore guard Kathleen Scott canned two from the charity stripe for a 70-62 with 39 seconds left.

Bellarmine shot 45.6 percent from the floor and held Truman State to 35.4 percent. The Knights had a 41-39 rebounding advantage and a 28-4 superiority in bench points. Senior center Ally Mayhaus grabbed eight rebounds, and senior forward Allison Van Dyke corralled six and had five assists.

"We're playing inspired defense right now," Dugan said. "Truman is very, very good and can shoot the lights out, and they have two bigs who are really, really good."

Bellarmine hosts Quincy at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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