LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball held a lead over Bradley in each of the first three quarters, but the Braves managed to control the final period while securing a 65-55 win Saturday in Knights Hall.
Bellarmine (1-4) started strong and built a 16-6 advantage after one quarter. Bradley (2-2) cut into the deficit but still trailed the Knights 29-22 at halftime and 43-42 after three quarters.
On three occasions in the third, Bellarmine led by nine, the latter with 2:13 left. However, Bradley ended the period on an 8-0 run, and that seemed to provide the Braves the momentum they needed to overtake the Knights in the fourth.
Bradley ultimately bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 17-0 run to lead by eight with 7:24 left. Bellarmine had a roughly five-minute dry spell during the Braves' surge, but the Knights recovered and worked their way back to within three with 3:50 remaining on a layup by sophomore center
Tacko Sy.
They were within three again after a pair of free throws by senior guard
Triniti Ralston when Bradley's Charia Smith converted down low and, after a Knights miss, Inia Jones hit a pair from the charity stripe. The latter boosted the lead to seven with 2:12 left.
Bradley hit six of its eight shots from the field in the fourth quarter and complemented that by going 10-for-12 from the line in the period. Bellarmine, meanwhile, was 3-for-16 from the floor in the frame.
Freshman guard
Leigha Acoff made six of her seven shots in scoring a team-high 13 points for Bellarmine. Junior guard
Savannah Rowland chipped in 11 points while Ralston had eight, six rebounds and five assists.
Bellarmine impressed on the boards, holding a 45-33 rebounding advantage, including 19 on the offensive end. Sy hauled in eight rebounds and sophomore center
Hana Abdel Aal grabbed seven.
Abdel Aal and sophomore wing
Anna Rodgers opened the game by drilling 3-pointers and Rowland followed by canning a jumper. Sy capped a terrific first quarter with a putback that gave the Knights a 16-6 lead.
Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Tuesday at Indiana State.
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