LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University women’s basketball team will have the opportunity to make a terrific start to the 2015-16 season even more meaningful. And the Knights will have the chance to do it before a national audience.
At 5:45 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, Bellarmine (3-0) will welcome Illinois Springfield (3-2) in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener at Knights Hall. BU will follow by hosting McKendree (1-4) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a game that will be televised on ESPN3.
One of the benefits of winning the NCAA’s Division II Award of Excellence last season is the opportunity to host a nationally distributed game this season. Bellarmine received the honor after its collaboration with Team IMPACT resulted in Patrick McSweeney, a local high school student stricken with cancer, taking the floor with the Knights in their exhibition game with the University of Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center. Both the Knights’ women’s and men’s teams’ contests with the Bearcats will be televised.
Bellarmine is undefeated after three games for the first time since the 2011-12 season, building sizable leads in each outing and winning each contest by eight or more points. The Knights are coming off a 77-61 victory over Kentucky State – which was ranked 25th in the Division II Media Poll – after a resounding 22-8 advantage in third-quarter scoring.
Bellarmine’s frenetic style has thus far produced 85.7 points per game backed by solid 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 74.7 percent accuracy from the free throw line. Helping the Knights distance themselves from opponents has been their work at the charity stripe – 59-31 differential in makes – and from the 3-point line – 24-8 differential in makes.
Heading into Bellarmine’s GLVC debut, junior forward Sarah Galvin is pacing the Knights at 18.3 points per game. Junior guard Destony Curry (13.7) and sophomore guard Raven Merriweather (11.0) are also posting double figures. Senior point guard Mackenzie Martinez is distributing over 5 assists per game, and freshman center Ally Mayhaus is averaging 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
Illinois Springfield dropped its opener to Hillsdale (75-57) and its most recent game to Missouri Southern (60-42), but in between the Prairie Stars notched wins over Lake Superior State (60-45), Principia (58-43) and Lincoln (80-69).
At 10.8 points per game, Shelbi Patterson is the only UIS player averaging double figures, but Chelsea Cross (9.6) and Ashley McHenry (9.5) are on the cusp. Syerra Cunningham is averaging 9.0 rebounds per game, and Meredith Marti has nailed nine 3-pointers.
McKendree opened the season with a 51-40 win over Lake Superior State, but the Bearcats have dropped their last four games, most recently a 70-46 decision to Lindenwood. McKendree will meet Southern Indiana prior to its showdown with the Knights. Kacey Johnson (9.8) and Ellie Pusheck (9.4) are leading the Bearcats in scoring and have both knocked down 17 3-pointers.
Among the special promotions for Saturday’s doubleheader are free Bellarmine T-shirts along with vouchers for complimentary hot dogs and chips for every fan. There also will be a drawing to win a 65-inch television during the men’s game and a drawing for $1,000 prepaid Visa gift card during the women’s game. In addition, the world-famous ZOOperstars! are scheduled to perform during both games.
Other promotions – targeted for Bellarmine students – include a free pair of Bellarmine sunglasses and drawings for $500 gift certificates to the Bellarmine bookstore. The drawings will be held at halftime of each game.
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Illinois Springfield (3-2, 0-0 GLVC) at Bellarmine (3-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Date: Thursday, December 3
Tip-off: 5:45 p.m. (ET)
Site: Knights Hall
Radio: 94.7 FM-WFIA
Video
Live Stats
McKendree at Bellarmine
Date: Saturday, December 5
Tip-off: 1 p.m. (ET)
Site: Knights Hall
Radio: 94.7 FM-WFIA
Video
Live Stats