LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A victory in its final game of the 2017 portion of the schedule sure would add another element of celebration to the arrival of the New Year for the Bellarmine University women's basketball team.

At 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Kates Gymnasium, the visiting Knights (6-4) will meet top-ranked and undefeated Ashland (12-0), the defending national champion and owner of a 49-game winning streak that is only two shy of the Division II record of 51 set by Washburn (Jan. 26, 2005-March 11, 2006).

Nonconference opponent Ashland went 37-0 last season en route to the national title, and it turned out that Bellarmine gave the Eagles their stiffest challenge of the year as far as margin of victory. The two teams clashed at Knights Hall on the same date they will meet this season, with Ashland edging Bellarmine 88-83.

Bellarmine, which is familiar with Kates Gymnasium after playing NCAA Tournament games there the previous two seasons, has dealt with significant injury issues but has still built a winning record after 10 contests. Ashland presents the Knights with their second road challenge of the season. In its most recent game, on Dec. 19, Bellarmine was defeated 93-73 at Ohio Dominican.

Raven Merriweather was a force for Bellarmine before the Christmas break and will look to continue in that role now that action is resuming.  The senior guard leads the Knights in scoring (19.6) and rebounding (6.7). Junior center Liza Tibbs is coming off a career-high 26 points against Ohio Dominican and is averaging 10.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. Senior forward Beth Bowers scored in double figures in three of the last four games.

Ashland ranks first in the nation in scoring margin (36.8), second in scoring offense (98.9) and third in field-goal percentage (50.5). Laina Snyder leads four players averaging double figures at 20.6 points per game, Jodi Johnson is next at 18.8, Andi Daugherty chips in 13.2 and Maddie Dackin is at 11.5.

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