LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team has chased down several teams in the fourth quarter in victories this season.

Thursday night was all about closing.

Bellarmine fended off a pesky North Florida squad that refused to go away with assertive play down the stretch in pulling way from the Ospreys for an 80-69 victory in Atlantic Sun Conference action in Knights Hall.

Bellarmine (14-8, 5-4 ASUN) began a season-long four-game homestand in strong fashion while tying a D1-era record with its fifth ASUN victory. BU also matched a D1-era highwater mark with its seventh home win.

Bellarmine had exceptional balance offensively. Senior guard Hope Sivori led five players in double figures with a game-high 18 points behind five 3-pointers. Senior forward Skylar Treadwell finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine boards, as did senior guard Hayley Harrison, who collected 10 points and a season-best nine rebounds. Senior guard Ashlee Harris and junior guard Miyah Brown contributed 10 points apiece.

North Florida (4-18, 0-9) hung with Bellarmine behind a big outing from the 3-point line. The Ospreys canned a dozen 3-pointers, but led by Sivori, the Knights drained 10 triples themselves. Bellarmine offset the similar field-goal numbers between the two teams with superior production at the free throw line, where the Knights were 18-for-22 compared to the Ospreys' 7-for-10 outing.

For the second game in a row — not coincidentally both wins — Bellarmine set a new season high in conference play in rebounding margin. The Knights followed a plus-9 rebounding effort in a 67-52 victory at Stetson with a resounding plus-12 performance on the boards against North Florida, which led to a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Bellarmine threatened to put the game away at the outset, as 3-pointers by Sivori and freshman guard/forward Anna Rodgers bookended a 10-0 run to begin the contest. North Florida found its footing and cut its deficit to 18-15 after the first quarter.

The Ospreys hit four 3-pointers in the second period and took the lead before the teams were knotted at 37 at halftime. In the third, Harris capped a 10-3 run fueled mostly by free throws with a steal and layup as the Knights built an 11-point advantage.

Once again, North Florida would not wilt. With less than five minutes remaining, the Ospreys crept back within 68-66.

Bellarmine has often summoned another gear to pull off dramatic comeback wins this season, but Thursday was more about buckling down. Treadwell followed an offensive rebound by spotting a wide-open Brown for a layup, and Brown converted a tough drive on the ensuing trip.

After a defensive stop, Sivori buried a 3-pointer for a nine-point cushion, and Harrison knocked down a pair of free throws to extend the lead to double digits and finish off a game-clinching 9-0 run.

Bellarmine will host Jacksonville at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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