JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — A depleted Bellarmine University women's basketball team delivered a courageous performance Wednesday night in the Pete Mathews Coliseum, but Jacksonville State was just too potent from beyond the arc.

The Gamecocks sank a season-high 15 3-pointers, including a pair by Imari Martin inside the last three minutes that allowed JSU to pull away for a 72-63 win over the Knights in an ASUN opener.

Bellarmine (3-9, 0-1 ASUN) was forced to compete with only seven players against Jacksonville State (10-3, 1-0) as the pandemic's influence decimated the Knights' roster. Despite the hardships, Bellarmine led after the first quarter and at halftime, and the Knights remained within three as the clock ticked under three minutes left in the final period.

"I thought we played really well the first half," Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "We shot lights out and were hunting the offensive boards and were limiting their second chances. …At the end of the third quarter, I thought we could have folded up the tent, but they really bowed their necks and came back in the fourth quarter and really gave a great effort and made a great run to try to win the game."

Overall, Bellarmine did a commendable job rebounding, but on a possession late in the game Jacksonville State had three offensive boards after missed 3-pointers and Martin was good on a fourth attempt from deep, pushing the lead to 67-61 with 2:18.

Bellarmine scored on the ensuing possession, but Martin answered with yet another 3-pointer to effectively seal up the win. JSU's 15 trifectas were three more than its previous season high. The Gamecocks were shooting 28.6 percent from deep but hit 37.5 percent Wednesday.

"On those last three possessions on defense, we just didn't block out and they got second chances. They hit that 3; that was tough," Dugan said. "…Jacksonville State shot lights out from 3. We made a concerted effort to gamble on what we were going to give up because they're such good drivers and finish well around the basket and are really good rebounders."

Senior guard Presley Brown tied a game high with 22 points on 10-for-20 shooting and hauled in a game-high eight rebounds with a game-best four steals while playing all 40 minutes. Senior guard Bailee Harney added 11 points in 35 minutes. Sophomore guard Claire Knies chipped in nine points and senior forward Sheniqua Coatney had eight.

Bellarmine clearly wasn't feeling sorry for itself despite the shorthanded roster. The Knights came out scorching in the first quarter in sinking nine of their 14 shots in the frame. They led 18-16 after the period and 39-38 at halftime behind 62.1 percent shooting. Jacksonville State kept it close by draining 10 of its 21 3-point attempts in the first half.

Jacksonville State closed the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 57-48 lead and extended the advantage to 13 with 8:12 left in the fourth, but as Dugan noted, the Knights refused to fold and peeled off a 10-0 run highlighted by 3-pointers from Brown and Harney to push back within one possession and keep it close until the end.

Bellarmine will host Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday in Freedom Hall. Knights fans are encouraged to wear white for a "white out."

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