By Olivia Russell
On Jan. 14, the Bellarmine women’s basketball team extended its win streak to 11 with a 92-74 victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Truman State.
Truman State threatened the undefeated Knights from buzzer to buzzer, and the final score does bit reflect the challenge the Bulldogs posed. Although they lead the entire game, the Knights were far from comfortable as Truman State kept the game within two points most of the time.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Bellarmine shooters were able to break away from the Bulldogs’ defensive pressure. A series of late 3-pointers gave the Knights the boost they needed to pull away from Truman State.
Senior guard Mackenzie Martinez leads Bellarmine with her hustle, which was clear from opening possession when she drove to the basket for the first two points of the game. Her 14 points and three steals displayed her hard work as a leader. Junior forward Sarah Galvin led the Knights with 23 points.
Martinez says her team is more than just a physical squad. “It’s gotta start with mentality,” she said. “We just keep thinking ‘next play, next play’ and move forward.”
The strong mentality of this team is also what assistant coach Shannon Litton said gave the Knights an 11-0 start to the season.
“We never talk about it or think about it,” Litton said. “We just want to come out every night and give our best efforts, win or lose.”