LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team will make its ASUN home debut when the Knights welcome Eastern Kentucky to Freedom Hall for a 2 p.m. (ET) contest Saturday.

Bellarmine has declared the game a "white out" and is asking fans to wear white to the game with Kroger providing free T-shirts to fans while supplies last. In addition, Bellarmine has arranged for discounted tickets as the Knights will meet Eastern Kentucky for the first time in over three decades. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/bellarmine-university-knights-womens-basketball-tickets/artist/41924) and fans can use the unlock code "PackTheHall" to receive a 50-percent discount.

Eastern Kentucky is a new member of the ASUN this season, while Bellarmine is in its second year in the league and Division I. While this game will give birth to a new rivalry within the conference, it actually renews an old in-state rivalry. The Knights and Colonels have met seven times before, with six of those clashes coming in the 1980s — the inaugural meeting took place in the 1974-75 campaign. EKU holds a 5-2 lead in the series, but Bellarmine did win the most recent showdown, 77-51, in the 1986-87 season.

Eastern Kentucky (8-6, 1-0 ASUN) got off on the right foot in its first-ever ASUN game, defeating Central Arkansas 61-46 on Wednesday at home. The Colonels started to pull away at the end of the third quarter, building an eight-point lead that they'd increase to double digits early in the fourth and maintain throughout the final period.

The radio and ESPN+ broadcast crews could have their work cut out for them Saturday. Eastern Kentucky's leading scorer is Jayla Johnson (15.0), and Bellarmine's leading scorer is Jaela Johnson (14.3).

EKU's Johnson scored a game-high 19 points on the strength of 8-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line in the win over Central Arkansas. Alice Recanati added 13 points and is the team's second-leading scorer at 9.6 points per game along with being among the ASUN's leaders in assists (4.4) and steals (2.3). Ariel Kirkwood is among the league's top shot blockers (2.1).

Rebounding and taking care of the basketball will be crucial for Bellarmine. Eastern Kentucky averages 14.6 offensive rebounds per game and forces 21.6 turnovers per contest, 10.7 of which can be attributed to steals.

Bellarmine (3-9, 0-1) opened ASUN action Wednesday with a 72-63 loss at new league member Jacksonville State, but considering the circumstances, the Knights unquestionably delivered one of their finest performances — and certainly gutsiest — of the season. Bellarmine was limited to seven players due to the pandemic and still managed to lead after the first quarter and at halftime and was within one possession with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth.

Senior guard Presley Brown played all 40 minutes and tied a game high with 22 points while posting game bests in rebounds (eight) and steals (four). Senior guard Bailee Harney amassed a career-high 35 minutes and scored 11 points.

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