LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency and a decisive third-quarter swing, the East Tennessee State Lady Buccaneers edged the Bellarmine Knights 55-49 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday.

The contest, part of the 2025-26 Louisville MTE event, saw both teams fall to 2-5 on the young season.

Bellarmine exploded from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, building a lead it would hold for the majority of the first half. The Knights connected on five three-pointers in the period, with Andrea Chiquemba hitting three of them, to take a 22-13 lead. The offensive rhythm, however, vanished almost completely in the second quarter. Bellarmine managed just six points, going scoreless for nearly six minutes, which allowed East Tennessee State to claw back. A three-pointer from Carmen Richardson just before the halftime buzzer cut the Knights’ lead to 28-23 at the break.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point. The Lady Buccaneers, capitalizing on Bellarmine’s continued offensive woes, seized control with a 19-11 period. Meghan Downing was instrumental in the paint, scoring six points in the quarter and anchoring a defense that stifled the Knights. Bellarmine’s offense, which looked so potent early, went cold, shooting just 14 of 47 from the floor for the game.

East Tennessee State maintained its advantage throughout a tense fourth quarter. While Bellarmine closed the gap to four points on multiple occasions, the Knights could not string together enough scores to reclaim the lead. The Lady Buccaneers sealed the victory at the free-throw line, hitting critical shots down the stretch to secure the six-point win.

The game was a statistical anomaly, with both teams struggling mightily on offense. They combined for just eight total assists and 24 turnovers. East Tennessee State won the game despite shooting just 28.4 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point range. Their victory was built on dominance inside, outscoring Bellarmine 24-8 in the paint, and a significant 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points. Bellarmine’s 15 turnovers also led to 16 points for the Lady Buccaneers.

Chiquemba led all scorers with 17 points for Bellarmine, all of which came in the first and third quarters. Rose Jamison recorded a double-double for the Knights with 9 points and 11 rebounds. Triniti Ralston added 8 points and 8 rebounds.

For East Tennessee State, Downing was a force, finishing with 13 points and 4 blocks. Anala Nelson and Carmen Richardson each contributed 8 points, with Richardson adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Jaidyn Harper pulled down 7 rebounds to go with 7 points.

The game was a tale of two halves for Bellarmine, which could not sustain its hot start. The Knights will look to rebound quickly as they face Eastern Illinois on Saturday. East Tennessee State, meanwhile, will take on host Louisville, also on Saturday.