DeLAND, Fla. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team came within a whisker of securing its first Division I and ASUN Conference victory, but Stetson snatched it from the Knights' grasp Saturday afternoon at the Edmunds Center.

The Hatters erased an eight-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to secure a 71-67 win over Bellarmine.

"We didn't finish out the game like we should have," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "It's a game of runs. Unfortunately, they had the last run. We had some bad mental mistakes in the last four minutes that put us in a bind."

Sophomore guard Ashlee Harris provided a big lift off the bench for Bellarmine (0-10, 0-5 ASUN), posting a career-high 14 points with five rebounds and two blocks. Senior guard Tasia Jeffries chipped in 13 points against Stetson (4-4, 2-1), junior forward Sheniqua Coatney registered 11 and seven rebounds, and senior guard Breia Torrens collected seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.

After trailing 29-26 at halftime, Bellarmine surged into the lead in the third period behind a 9-0 run sparked by a pair of baskets by Harris and finished off with a bucket and assist to Jeffries for a 3-pointer by Torrens. Harris drilled a trey with about two minutes left in the period for an eight-point advantage, the same edge Bellarmine took into the final quarter.

Stetson chipped away at its deficit and eventually took a 57-56 lead over Bellarmine with four minutes left. The Knights trailed by five before a dazzling sequence by Harris in which she blocked a shot and followed at the other end by draining a 3-pointer. The Hatters followed with a basket, but Jeffries responded with a trifecta to keep Bellarmine within one.

The teams exchanged turnovers and the Knights couldn't capitalize on another Stetson giveaway, missing a layup with 30 seconds left. Megan Vincent hit a pair of free throws for the Hatters, and after Bellarmine missed a game-tying 3-point attempt, she essentially sealed the win with another make from the charity stripe.

"I think they were focused, we just had mental lapses," Dugan said. "If you have too many in a game, that will get you beat."

Bellarmine and Stetson will meet again at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday.

"If you are any kind of competitor," Dugan said, "I would think you'll come out with your hair on fire tomorrow."

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