WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Behind an impassioned performance and astonishing 25-0 run bridging the halves, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team posed a major threat to Purdue on Monday night, but the Boilermakers took control in the fourth quarter to escape Mackey Arena with a 78-67 win over the upset-minded Knights.

After Purdue (3-1) led by 17 late in the second quarter, Bellarmine (3-2) charged into halftime trailing just 39-34 after the Knights ripped off a 12-0 run. BU maintained all the momentum in the third quarter, scoring the first 13 points to build a 47-39 lead.

From the 3:53 mark in the second period to the 5:12 mark in the third, Bellarmine outscored Purdue 25-0. The Boilermakers chipped away at the eight-point deficit in the third, but the Knights held the lead with less than a minute remaining in the period behind a 3-pointer from junior guard Erin Toller.

Although Purdue clung to a two-point lead after three quarters, Toller sank another triple for a 63-60 advantage with 8:51 left. Unfortunately, the Knights went cold from there, and the Boilermakers leaned on their size advantage and took command with a game-altering 15-0 run.

Senior guard Hayley Harrison registered 19 points, five rebounds and five assists for Bellarmine while Toller, senior guard Hope Sivori and freshman center Hana Abdel Aal — in her first career double-figure outing — notched 11 points apiece. Sivori collected six assists and six rebounds, Abdel Aal blocked three shots and junior guard Miyah Brown corralled six rebounds.

Abdel Aal provided a huge first-half spark off the bench for Bellarmine, scoring all 11 of her points before the break. It was her jumper that ignited the 12-0 run into halftime. The burst also featured consecutive 3-pointers from Sivori and Harrison.

Sivori sank a 3-pointer to open the third quarter and, after a Brown putback, spotted senior forward Skylar Treadwell for a fastbreak layup and 41-39 lead. The advantage would swell to eight — and the run to 25-0 — after an old-fashioned three-point play from Harrison and a Toller free throw.

Bellarmine scored 22 points in both the second and third quarters. The theme continued as the Knights forced 22 Boilermaker turnovers.

Reagan Bass had game highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds for Purdue. The Boilermakers had 16 offensive rebounds, but the Knights impressed in that area as well with 13.

Bellarmine will host Wright State at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday in Knights Hall.

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