CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — In a back-and-forth contest Sunday at McKenzie Arena, the Bellarmine University women's basketball team was edged 78-73 by Chattanooga.

Senior guard Triniti Ralston piled up a career-high 26 points while distributing a career-best nine assists for Bellarmine (2-9). Ralston, who supplied her fourth 20-plus-point performance of the season, converted seven of her 12 shots from the floor and sank 10 of her 11 attempts from the free throw line against the Mocs (5-5).

On the other side, Gianna Corbitt had an equally dominant outing for Chattanooga. The Mocs forward racked up a game-high 30 points on 10-for-13 shooting, including 5-of-7 from downtown.

The second half featured a mano a mano clash between the two stars of the game. Over the final two periods, Corbitt scored 23 of her points while Ralston tallied 17 of hers. Four of Corbitt's field goals in the second half were 3-pointers, with two coming in each quarter.

Corbitt's last triple was pivotal. It staked Chattanooga to a five-point lead with 2:14 left, and she followed a Bellarmine turnover with another basket to extend the advantage to 72-65 and cap a 9-2 run.

Redshirt junior guard/forward Rose Jamison answered with a traditional three-point play, and sophomore forward Rachel Shropshire knocked down two free throws after a UTC turnover to trim the deficit to 72-70 with 1:09 left.

Corbitt managed to convert a layup off an inbound just before the shot clock expired. Bellarmine responded within seconds as Ralston spotted sophomore forward Kayce Hyman for a lay-in.

After a timeout with 34 seconds left, Bellarmine opted for a defensive stand, but Corbitt was able to draw a foul with six seconds remaining while driving to the basket and sealed the win by hitting a pair of free throws.

Bellarmine posted season highs in 3-pointers made (11) and 3-point percentage (52.4). Eight of the triples came in the first half and were instrumental in the Knights taking an 18-9 lead after one quarter and 33-23 advantage at halftime.

However, Chattanooga knocked down four 3-pointers in the third quarter, when the Mocs outscored the Knights 24-15 to set up the tight finish.

Sophomore guard Ava Smith buried four 3-pointers in scoring 12 points. Jamison added 11 points and Hyman notched 10. Shropshire contributed eight points and a career-high eight rebounds.

Bellarmine will play at 8 p.m. ET (6 MST) Thursday at Arizona.

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