CONWAY, Ark. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team rallied in the second half, but Central Arkansas turned back the Knights as the Bears secured a 4-2 win Sunday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference play at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex.

Freshman forward McKenzie Carle and senior midfielder Emma Nicholson scored second-half goals for Bellarmine (3-8-2, 2-3-1 ASUN). Caroline Billings recorded a hat trick for ASUN leader Central Arkansas (6-5-1, 5-0-1), which remained unbeaten in conference play.

Central Arkansas scored early in each half. The Bears got on the board in the seventh minute and then shortly after halftime found the net in the 49th minute for a 2-0 lead.

Carle cut Bellarmine's deficit in half a little over one minute later on her second goal of the season, but the Bears needed less than a minute to restore a two-goal advantage, as the teams combined for three goals in a span of 2:11.

Nicholson got Bellarmine within 3-2 in the 80th minute on her team-high seventh goal of the season. It remained a one-goal game until Billings put the finishing touch on her hat trick with 33 seconds left.

The shots were even at 15 apiece, with 11 of Bellarmine's attempts coming in the second half. Central Arkansas had a slight edge in shots on goal at 10-8.

Bellarmine will host Queens in an Atlantic Sun Conference contest at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday.

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