DeLAND, Fla. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team may have let its first Division I victory slip through its fingers on Saturday, but when thrust into a similar position Sunday, the Knights put a stranglehold on it.

Bellarmine recorded the landmark win, which also represented its first ASUN Conference victory, with a 71-64 triumph over Stetson at the Edmunds Center.

Senior forward Lauren Deel tied a career high with a game-high 22 points behind 14-for-18 free-throw shooting and grabbed eight rebounds for Bellarmine (1-10, 1-5 ASUN). Senior guard Tasia Jeffries collected 17 points, six rebounds and three steals, sophomore guard Ashlee Harris notched 11 points and junior forward Sheniqua Coatney gathered eight rebounds against Stetson (4-5, 2-2).

"It's everything, just to get that anchor from around our neck and just get the monkey off our back," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said.

Bellarmine has tended to start slow this season, but the Knights reversed course Sunday, bolting out to a 13-4 lead after a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Kathleen Scott en route to a 19-10 advantage after one quarter. The Hatters battled back to within one in the second quarter, but the Knights reeled off a 10-0 run highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Jeffries and freshman guard Hannah Farrell for a 35-24 edge at the break.

Bellarmine led by as many as 13 in the third period before taking a 51-44 advantage into the fourth. Once there, Stetson kept pace with the Knights and was within three with 42 seconds left, but Harris followed with a pair of key free throws. Bellarmine would sink 6-of-8 from the charity stripe inside the last minute to preserve its historic win.

"They stayed the course," Dugan said. "It was just so hard to get (that first win). We've been close, we've been right there, and our kids really stepped up today. I'm proud of them."

Led by Deel, Bellarmine made a living at the charity stripe, canning 27 of its 35 attempts. Stetson, on the other hand, had only nine opportunities from the line, hitting six shots. Behind Deel and Coatney's four apiece, the Knights hauled in 16 offensive rebounds and, in total, outrebounded the Hatters 38-33.

Dugan said her seniors rallied the troops in crunch time as the Knights made several key stops.

"When it comes from your seniors," she said, "it's so much easier for everybody to buy in."

Bellarmine hosts Kennesaw State on Saturday and Sunday in Freedom Hall.

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