EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Shanta Bowens and Nickie Randall combined for 48 points Wednesday as Bellarmine defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 90-79 ion the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Roberts Stadium.
            Bowens scored 15 of her 25 points in the second half as fourth-seeded Bellarmine improved to 18-9. Randall added 23 points for the Knights, who shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half.
            Jessica Robert scored a career-high 26 points as SIUE kept the game close. SIUE shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and trailed by just four points at halftime 39-35.
            Bellarmine used a 21-10 run to begin the second half, building a 60-45 lead. Bowens keyed the Knights spurt with six points. The Knights also converted 20 of 26 free throws in the second half to hold off a late SIUE rally.
            Amanda Buldtman added 15 points and five assists for SIUE, which finished the season 14-13. Liz DeShasier finished with a career-high 14 points off the bench for the Cougars.
            Bellarmine advances to play the winner of top-seeded Northern Kentucky and eighth-seeded Saint Joseph's.
                  -siue-