LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They say turnabout is fair play.

Well, not when the Bellarmine University women's basketball team has something to say about it.

After erasing a massive second-half deficit to win its previous game, Bellarmine nearly had the tables turned Sunday afternoon after a sizable fourth-quarter advantage nearly slipped away against Akron, but the resilient Knights answered the Zips' frenetic rally in holding on for a 72-65 victory.

Senior guard Hope Sivori piled up a career-high 29 points with five steals and four assists for Bellarmine (5-2), which moved to 4-0 in Knights Hall this season. Senior guard Hayley Harrison was a second 20-point scorer, hitting that exact mark against the Zips (2-4). Senior guard Ashlee Harris chipped in 11 points, five assists and four steals.

On Thursday, Bellarmine roared back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Wright State 79-71. Three days later, the Knights were ahead by 17 less than a minute into the final period when Akron suddenly charged back to within two at 61-59 behind a 17-2 run in about a four-and-a-half-minute span.

Sivori halted the surge — while setting a new career high in scoring — when she tied a career best with her sixth 3-pointer. Then, after Akron got within two again, Harrison hit a pair of free throws before driving into the lane, shaking her defender with a sudden stop and sinking a short turnaround for a 68-62 lead with 1:28 left.

Harris bumped the advantage to eight with less than a minute remaining with a steal and pair of free throws as Bellarmine successfully fended off Akron. Harris, Sivori and junior guard Miyah Brown combined for 12 of the Knights' 16 steals as the squad produced 25 points off turnovers. Freshman center Hana Abdel Aal furthered the defensive playmaking with four blocks.

Sivori was unconscious in the first half, hitting five of her seven attempts from 3-point range and 8-of-10 shots overall in racking up 22 points. Her fifth triple of the half completed a 14-2 run for a 40-28 advantage at the break.

Sivori's fellow Preseason All-ASUN Team selection, Harrison, then proceeded to score 16 of her 20 points in the second half. For the game, the duo combined to go 17-for-28 from the field, including 8-for-16 from deep. Sivori was also 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.

Bellarmine's 10-for-22 effort from 3-point land marked the fourth time this season the Knights hit double-digit makes from long range. BU shot 46.3 percent overall and assisted on 18 of its 25 baskets.

Bellarmine will play two games in USC Upstate's Spartan Shootout Thanksgiving MTE. The Knights will face Jackson State at noon (ET) Friday and the host Spartans at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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