CARROLLTON, Ga. — Once again, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team tested the strength of head coach
Chancellor Dugan's heart.
And the Knights did it on pure heart.
On Thursday night at The Coliseum, a Bellarmine squad that would fit the label of "Cardiac Kids" was back at it, delivering yet another seemingly miraculous comeback as the Knights erased an eight-point deficit with approximately two minutes left to force overtime before commanding the extra session in an 86-78 victory over West Georgia in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
Senior guard
Hayley Harrison finished two points shy of a career high with 30 points for Bellarmine (12-6, 3-2 ASUN), which set a new D1-era program record with its fifth road win. Junior guard
Miyah Brown matched a career high with 21 points, and senior forward
Skylar Treadwell supplied 14. Brown and Treadwell both finished one rebound shy of a double-double after gathering nine boards each. Senior guard
Hope Sivori chipped in 13 points against West Georgia (7-9, 1-4).
There were several momentum changes in the fourth quarter alone. Bellarmine bumped a 55-54 lead after three quarters to seven with eight minutes remaining, but a series of turnovers by the Knights sparked a 15-0 run by West Georgia, which held a 71-63 lead as the clock ticked under two minutes.
It was a haymaker of a blow, but Bellarmine refused to allow it to decide the game. Senior guard
Mia Beam, who stepped up in major fashion in her most significant action of the season, halted the Wolves' run with a 3-pointer.
After she sank two free throws, a Sivori steal preceded a successful drive by Treadwell as Bellarmine's deficit dwindled to two. Harassing defensive pressure by Brown and Sivori near midcourt then led to a steal and breakaway layup by Harrison for the tie.
Inside the last 15 seconds, West Georgia and Bellarmine exchanged a pair of made free throws, with Treadwell sending the contest to overtime after nailing her attempts.
Bellarmine largely owned the "bonus basketball." Treadwell scooped in a layup and Beam drained a pair from the charity stripe to get the Knights going early in OT. Harrison then registered her 30th point when she snuck undetected under the basket, and Brown fired to her for a layup.
When Beam continued her clutch play by burying a corner 3-pointer, Bellarmine's lead swelled to 83-76 with 1:27 left. It was the dagger.
Bellarmine outscored West Georgia 12-4 in overtime. The Knights hit three of their five shots and 5-of-6 from the FT line in the extra period while holding the Wolves to a 2-for-5 effort from the field in OT.
Harrison went 12-of-19 from the floor and Brown was 9-for-17. Sivori reached 350 assists for her college career in the victory, with 183 helpers coming in her two seasons with the Knights.
Bellarmine will play an ASUN contest at 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Eastern Kentucky.
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