FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Despite the first double-double of freshman center Gracie Merkle's college career, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell 73-62 to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday in the Gates Sports Center.

Bellarmine (0-2) and Purdue Fort Wayne (2-1) renewed a former Division II rivalry, as the teams were counterparts in the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 1984-2001. The Mastodons were victorious in the first D1 meeting between the squads largely due to forcing 30 Knights turnovers.

"All night I thought our turnovers were the difference," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "Every single time we made a run, got a lead, all of the sudden we'd have a myriad of turnovers."

Indeed, it was a game of runs, but Purdue Fort Wayne had the final one. The score was tied at 49 early in the fourth quarter when the Mastodons proceeded with a 20-7 run to build a comfortable lead with two minutes remaining.

Bellarmine was at its best when feeding the ball down low to Merkle and senior forward Sheniqua Coatney. Merkle's first collegiate double-double consisted of 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, the latter a D1-era program record. She went 9-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-5 at the free-throw line after multiple and-ones. Additionally, she blocked a game-best three shots.

Coatney stood out as well after hitting 6-of-7 shots while accounting for 13 points and five rebounds. With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Bellarmine trailed 49-40 when Coatney hit a jumper, made a steal and fed junior guard Claire Knies for a layup off the press and then swished a running 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Ultimately, turnovers were Bellarmine's undoing. Purdue Fort Wayne amassed 33 points off the miscues, including a crucial 11 in the fourth quarter. Coupled with that issue was a big performance from PFW's Amelia Bromenschenkel, who poured in a game-high 26 points behind 10-for-15 shooting that included 4-of-6 accuracy from the 3-point line.

"It's disappointing because I felt like we played well enough to win this game if you take the turnovers out," Dugan said. "You can't win a basketball game with 30 turnovers. There's just no way."

Purdue Fort Wayne utilized the three-ball to gain some distance from Bellarmine, particularly in the second half. The Mastodons sank four 3-pointers apiece in the third and fourth quarters, finishing 11-of-25 overall from beyond the arc.

Behind Merkle, Bellarmine had a 14-0 run in the second quarter to surge ahead 25-15. However, Purdue Fort Wayne answered with a 13-0 spurt. The Coatney-led burst resulted in a 9-0 run bridging the third and fourth periods before the Mastodons took control of the final stanza.

Bellarmine outrebounded Purdue Fort Wayne 40-27.

The Knights will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday at Kentucky.

"We did a great job on the boards, we did a really job getting the ball into the post, I thought our press looked good," Dugan said. "The turnovers were just glaring. …You're right there, you're in it. It was a good game if we take care of the basketball, and I think we can learn from it."

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