KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State Bulldogs had to overcome another sluggish start but in the end they downed their Mississippi River rival Quincy Lady Hawks 58-48 in Pershing Arena on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (16-7; 12-3 GLVC) had only two points for nearly the first seven minutes of the game and trailed 15-6 at the end of the first quarter. 

Hannah Belanger got her three-point shot going with back-to-back triples and Truman scored eight straight to get back in things. They would be tied at 24 apiece at the halftime break.

Truman scored 13 straight out of the gate and 17 overall to take their largest lead at 39-25 with 4:36 to play in the third.

Quincy (6-17; 2-13 GLVC) would battle back and had their own 7-0 run and trailed by just one at the end of the quarter at 41-40.

The Bulldogs maintained and then gradually increased the lead in the fourth and went 9-of-11 at the free throw line down the stretch.

Belanger finished with 20 points for the third straight game and fifth in six contest. Ellie Weltha added 14 points and seven rebounds and Maddie Re was one off her career game high as she gobbled up 15 boards. Truman won the glass 43-25 and shot 37% for the game and 83% from the free throw line. 

Beth Matas Martin led Quincy with 14 points. Quincy shot 30% for the game and were 4-of-18 from distance. 

Truman will host Illinois Springfield for Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m.