NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Lipscomb Bisons, led by a dominant 21-point performance from McKayla Miller, overwhelmed the Bellarmine Knights from the opening tip and cruised to an 87-42 victory in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Allen Arena.

The game was never in doubt, as Lipscomb established a double-digit lead in the first quarter and relentlessly expanded it, holding Bellarmine to single-digit scoring in two quarters. The Bisons improved to 10-18 overall, while the Knights’ difficult season continued, falling to 2-28.

The most important part of the game was its decisive start. Lipscomb set the tone immediately with aggressive defense and efficient scoring, opening a 23-12 lead after the first quarter and never allowing Bellarmine to entertain thoughts of an upset. The Bisons forced numerous early turnovers and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, ensuring the Knights would spend the entire night battling from a deep deficit.

Miller, a 6-foot-1 guard from Cimarron, Kansas, was the catalyst, scoring from all levels while adding three assists and two blocks in 36 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Molly Heard of Pisgah, Alabama, provided 20 points, and forward Maris Zurliene of Aviston, Illinois, contributed 16 points and three assists. The Bisons’ ball movement was sharp, with Taylor Bowen of Carmel, Indiana, dishing out a game-high six assists.

Bellarmine, which has now lost 12 consecutive games, struggled to find consistent offense outside of guard Kayce Hyman. The sophomore from Irmo, South Carolina, fought for a team-high 17 points in 38 minutes, but received little support. The Knights shot poorly from the field and committed 20 turnovers, which Lipscomb converted into 28 points.

The Bisons’ interior defense was formidable, recording seven blocks and altering countless other shots. Hope Counts of Crystal, Minnesota, anchored that effort with six points, six rebounds and a block, while Hannah Richardson of Auckland, New Zealand, added nine points and two blocks.

Bellarmine’s Haya Abdel Aal, a 6-foot-3 forward from Alexandria, Egypt, provided a brief spark off the bench with six points and a block, but the Knights’ offense repeatedly stalled against Lipscomb’s pressure.

The game was a stark reversal of the teams’ meeting just 13 days prior, which Lipscomb won 74-44. This result was even more lopsided, underscoring the Bisons’ current form and the Knights’ ongoing challenges. Lipscomb shot 48 percent from the field and connected on 12 three-pointers, while Bellarmine managed just 29 percent shooting.

A crowd of 307 at Allen Arena saw Lipscomb blow the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Bellarmine 28-12. Miller and Heard combined for 17 points in the period, effectively extinguishing any lingering hope for the visitors.

The victory gives Lipscomb momentum heading into its regular-season finale against Austin Peay on Friday. Bellarmine, still searching for its first ASUN win of the season, will conclude its campaign at Eastern Kentucky on the same night.

The statistical projection from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Lipscomb a 91.9 percent probability to win, proved accurate as the Bisons controlled every facet of the game from start to finish.