CLEVELAND, Ohio — Sizzling shooting from sophomore guard Hayley Harrison and a dominant three-headed interior attack lifted the Bellarmine University women's basketball team to a 72-65 victory over St. Bonaventure on Wednesday night in the Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown Viking Invitational.

Career highs and Division I-era program records abounded for Bellarmine (1-3) in its opening contest of the three-game event. The Knights had four double-digit scorers, including a pair crack 20 points, and nearly had a fifth in double figures who finished just one tally shy.

"They bowed their neck and we had some kids play outstanding basketball today," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said.

Harrison scored 19 points in the season opener against nationally ranked LSU and set a new career high with 21 points against St. Bonaventure (1-3). She drilled a career-best five 3-pointers, missing only once from deep, and canned a pair of timely trifectas in the fourth quarter as the Bonnies rallied. Harrison tied a career high with seven rebounds.

Bellarmine also excelled inside behind senior forwards Cam Browning and Sheniqua Coatney and freshman center Gracie Merkle. Browning eclipsed career highs with 20 points and four blocks while hitting 8-of-11 shots and grabbing seven rebounds.

Browning's four blocks were a D1-era program record. In addition to 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting, Coatney distributed a career-high eight assists, which also marked a D1-era program record against a D1 opponent. Merkle racked up 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting in 17 minutes.

"I thought our three bigs all looked for each other," Dugan said. "(Coatney) is such a good passer. We've worked hard on our high/low offense."

The trio of Browning, Coatney and Merkle combined for 41 points on an ultra-efficient 18-of-24 from the floor, which buoyed Bellarmine to a 58.7-percent team effort, a new D1-era program record against a D1 opponent. The Knights' eight blocks tied a D1-era program record but were also the most against a D1 opponent, while Bellarmine's 21 assists were its highest against a D1 foe in the D1 era.

Bellarmine did turn the ball over 22 times, but the Knights mitigated the damage by allowing St. Bonaventure only 17 points off the takeaways. Bellarmine held the Bonnies to 34.3-percent shooting.

"That was key: I thought we did a really good job of getting back on defense after turnovers and not letting them turn them into points," Dugan said. "I really thought we played stellar defense."

Bellarmine led 13-9 after the first quarter and 27-21 at halftime. The Knights extended the advantage to 11 on a pair of occasions in the third period, but the Bonnies trimmed the deficit to two heading into the fourth.

Once there, Bellarmine's lead was at two about midway through when Harrison nailed a 3-pointer and Coatney followed with a steal and layup. When the Bonnies got back within three with less than three minutes left, Harrison buried another huge trey.

Freshman guard Miyah Brown spotted junior guard Claire Knies for a basket and six-point lead with 1:12 left, and Bellarmine sealed it up from there at the charity stripe.

Bellarmine is off Thanksgiving Thursday but will resume action in the Viking Invitational against host Cleveland State at 4 p.m. (ET) Friday.

Dugan said she is looking forward to enjoying the holiday with the team.

"We want to take a deep breath," she said, "and then we'll get ready for Cleveland State."

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