BY OLIVIA RUSSELL, Sports Writer
The Bellarmine University women’s basketball team opened its 2015-16 season with a commanding 96-50 win over Bluefield State on Sunday afternoon at Knights Hall.
The Knights forced an overwhelming 37 turnovers and managed to score 47 points off those turnovers. Coach Chancellor Dugan said she was pleased by her team’s powerful, crediting the players’ hard work in practice leading up to the game.
“When they play all out with that intensity, it makes it all easier for everyone else,” Dugan said.
Bellarmine’s starters, Whitney Hartlage, Destony Curry, Sarah Galvin, Mackenzie Martinez and Nicole Bryant, gave the Knights a solid opening by going on a 14-0 run in the first few minutes.
“The starting five came out and set the tone that everyone else picked up on,” Dugan said.
Bellarmine’s dominating 41-19 lead at halftime also gave Dugan the opportunity to use 14 different players during game as the Knights maintained their dominant lead over the visiting Big Blues.
Bellarmine shot field goals at an impressive 52 percent clip, with multiple players scoring in double digits. Galvin and Hartlage led the offense, finishing the game with 14 points apiece. Galvin, who missed the 2014-15 season because of a torn ACL, also led the Knights in rebounds with seven.
“Our performance today gave us a lot of confidence going forward,” Galvin said. “We were in our element by passing well and working together as a team.”
Dugan said she is confident that her team will continue to grow and make a statement in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
“Hopefully it sets the tone for the rest of the season,” Dugan said. “We have some things we need to work on, as always, but for the opening game, it’s a great win.”
Bellarmine will be tested again this weekend when the Knights travel to Cleveland, Tennessee, to play Lee University on Saturday at 5 p.m.
