LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new ASUN rivalry series will be born Wednesday night in Freedom Hall when the Bellarmine University women's basketball team squares off with Central Arkansas at 6:30 (ET).

Central Arkansas (5-7, 0-1 ASUN) is in its first season in the conference, while Bellarmine (3-10, 0-2) is competing in its second year in the league. In Eastern Kentucky, another new member, they already have a common opponent in ASUN play, both falling by near-identical scores to the Colonels — the Knights were upended 61-47 Saturday at home, while the Sugar Bears dropped a 61-46 decision Wednesday on the road in their conference debut.

Central Arkansas did not play last weekend, as the Sugar Bears' home outing with Lipscomb was postponed. Against Eastern Kentucky, UCA was within three points of the Colonels with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, but EKU closed the period on a 5-0 run and then outscored the Sugar Bears 15-8 in the final stanza.

Bellarmine's fate against Eastern Kentucky was similar. The Knights even held a 42-40 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Colonels turned the tide with a 10-0 run and controlled the last period like they did against UCA.

Sandra Rushing is in her 33rd season as a head coach, including her 10th at Central Arkansas, and has amassed 575 career wins. From 2016-18, she led the Sugar Bears to three consecutive 25-win seasons, the first two of which were punctuated by NCAA Tournament berths. Rushing was also well known in the coaching ranks while Bellarmine was a member of Division II, going 254-58 in 10 seasons at Delta State from 2002-12.

UCA's Lucy Ibeh has been among the ASUN's top performers this season. The junior forward is leading the league in rebounding (10.5) by over two boards per game and ranks fifth in scoring (14.9). The Sugar Bears' impressive frontcourt is further bolstered by senior forward Hannah Langhi, who is second on the team in scoring (10.3).

Bellarmine is seeking its first ASUN win this season after two near-misses. In addition to having a lead over EKU in the fourth quarter, the Knights were within three of Jacksonville State with less than three minutes remaining in their conference opener in an eventual 72-63 loss where they suited up only seven players due to another blow inflicted by the pandemic.

Senior guard Bailee Harney is coming off perhaps the top performance of her career. She scored a career-high 20 points against Eastern Kentucky, including 10 in the first quarter.

Senior guard Presley Brown continued to be a stat-stuffer with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Colonels. Brown has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games, recorded at least six rebounds in five straight contests and distributed at least three assists in four of her last five outings.

Senior forward Sheniqua Coatney broke double digits in rebounds for the third time this season with 11 boards against EKU, while freshman guard Bralee Trice made her collegiate debut after coming off injury and tallied a pair of steals in nine minutes. Junior guard Jaela Johnson continues to pace the Knights in scoring at 13.6 points per game.

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