LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Desperately searching for a spark for her reeling Bellarmine University women's basketball team, coach Chancellor Dugan employed a full-court press.

It was the right button to push. In fact, the effect was as if Dugan had lit a stick of dynamite.

Putting on a clinic of turning defense into offense, Bellarmine rose from the ashes, roaring back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Wright State 79-71 on Thursday night in Knights Hall.

Bellarmine (4-2) seemed in a perilous position as Wright State (1-4) hit 55.6 percent of its shots in the first half, including a 7-for-14 effort from 3-point land. The Raiders led 43-30 at halftime and extended the lead to 56-35 midway through the third quarter seemingly on the path to a lopsided win.

Dugan had other ideas, first and foremost seeing how the Raiders would respond if she unleashed a full-court press. To understate the matter, she got what she was hoping for.

The halftime deficit could have been worse if not for 15 first-half points from senior guard Hope Sivori. In the second half, Sivori spearheaded the comeback with opportunistic defense, along with distribution — trademarks of the ASUN leader in steals and assists last season.

After a pair of baskets by emerging freshman center Hana Abdel Aal, a Sivori steal led to a 3-pointer from junior guard Erin Toller. Bellarmine had cut the deficit to 14 and forced Wright State to call a timeout.

Sivori followed with another steal and fed senior guard Hayley Harrison for a layup. When Sivori then made her third steal in less than a minute and found Toller for a 3-pointer, the Knights had suddenly rallied to within single digits at 58-49 with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Bellarmine trailed 60-51 heading into the fourth after a putback by junior guard Miyah Brown just ahead of the buzzer. Once in the final period, the formula didn't change. A steal and layup by senior guard Ashlee Harris pulled the Knights within 63-57.

Following a block by Brown, senior forward Skylar Treadwell drilled a 3-pointer to get Bellarmine within 63-62. Fittingly, it was a steal by Sivori and toss to Toller for yet another triple that propelled the Knights into the lead with a little under five minutes remaining.

After Wright State tied it at 65, Bellarmine went ahead for good when Harrison buried a 3-pointer. The Knights immediately got some cushion when a Harris steal led to Toller relaying to Brown for a lay-in. Toller ostensibly put the finishing touch on the monumental comeback win by draining her fourth 3-pointer.

Bellarmine finished with a 32-14 advantage in points off turnovers, including a victory-defining 21-1 superiority in the second half. The Knights had 23 takeaways while committing only 10 turnovers, with Sivori's four steals and Brown's three thefts leading the charge.

Sivori also supplied game highs of 17 points and six assists while collecting six rebounds. After a huge second half, Toller tallied 14 points while Harrison and Harris registered 13 apiece and Abdel Aal contributed 11 and six rebounds.

Bellarmine shot 56.3 percent in the fourth quarter and collectively was strong from beyond the arc after hitting 11-of-25 attempts (44.0 percent) for the game.

Bellarmine will host Akron at 2 p.m. (ET) Sunday.

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