LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senior forward
Sheniqua Coatney posted a double-double and four Bellarmine University women's basketball players scored in double figures, but the Knights couldn't quite keep pace with Evansville as the Purple Aces pulled out an 89-83 win Tuesday night in Freedom Hall.
Coatney's double-double was the first of the season for Bellarmine (1-6) and consisted of season highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds, the latter of which was also a career high. Sophomore guard
Mackenzie Keelin sank a trio of 3-pointers in scoring a career-high 17 points, while junior guard
Jaela Johnson notched 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.
"I like how we're progressing," Knights Coach
Chancellor Dugan said. "I know we're not seeing it in the win column, but I can see it in how we're coming around and how we're supporting each other. It's going to happen soon."
Senior guard
Presley Brown chipped in 10 points and four assists against Evansville (5-3), which took control by outscoring Bellarmine 24-13 in the third quarter. Je'Naiya Davis poured in a game-high 29 points for the Purple Aces, while Abby Feit piled up 18 rebounds and 15 points.
A little over two minutes into the contest, Evansville used its frenetic pacing to explode out to an 11-0 lead, but Bellarmine established its footing and trailed 21-19 after the first quarter. The Knights built off the strong finish in the initial period and grabbed a 33-26 lead in the second quarter before the Purple Aces regrouped for a 17-9 run to carry a 43-42 advantage into the break.
The two teams played even for most of the third quarter, but Evansville outscored Bellarmine 13-3 over the final 3:29 to enter the final frame with a 67-55 edge behind that critical stretch. The Purple Aces kept the Knights at bay in the fourth, although Bellarmine refused to fold and even cut its deficit to six with 37 seconds left.
"I'm so proud of this bunch," Dugan said. "It's been a tough couple of days, and they're rallying around each other. I'm just really proud of the resiliency this group has."
Bellarmine plays at 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday at Austin Peay.
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