LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sophomore guard Ava Smith tallied a career-high 19 points, but the injury-depleted Bellarmine University women's basketball team was defeated 76-41 by Stetson in Atlantic Sun Conference play Saturday at the Edmunds Center.

Smith's 19 points — behind a career-best five 3-pointers — were also a game high for Bellarmine (2-23, 0-12 ASUN). The Knights began the contest against Stetson (15-8, 8-4) with five scholarship players but finished with four after freshman center Haya Abdel Aal took a hard spill in the second quarter and did not return.

Abdel Aal was off to a great start with six points in the first quarter as Bellarmine only trailed 18-12 after the opening period. However, second quarters have not been kind to the Knights on their Florida trip, and Stetson took control for good by outscoring BU 17-5 in the second stanza.

Cameron Thomas, the ASUN's leading scorer, paced the Hatters with 17 points and Mary McMillan added 16. Stetson outrebounded the shorthanded Knights 50-23.

Bellarmine will host Lipscomb at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).