LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team will begin its second round of Atlantic Sun Conference games against West opponents when the Knights travel to Central Arkansas for a 6 p.m. (ET) contest Thursday before heading to North Alabama for a 6 p.m. showdown Saturday.

Although the ASUN isn't separated into divisions in the standings, the six teams in both the East and West play divisional opponents twice and "crossover" opponents once. Central Arkansas (16-8, 8-3 ASUN) begins the second wave of West games for Bellarmine (8-15, 3-8).

FGCU (11-0 ASUN) and Central Arkansas are the first two teams to clinch berths in the ASUN Tournament. North Alabama (10-14, 6-5) is tied for sixth in the conference and Bellarmine is ninth. Ten of the league's 12 teams have five games left — intracity rivals Jacksonville and North Florida have six.

Although it dropped its two road games last week — 65-43 to FGCU and 57-56 to Stetson — Central Arkansas likely remains the biggest surprise in the ASUN. The Sugar Bears are tied for second with Stetson and defeated Bellarmine 73-59 on Jan. 20 in Freedom Hall. The Knights led 38-34 at halftime, but UCA outscored them 39-21 in the second half.

Central Arkansas' defense ranks second in the ASUN in points allowed (58.7) while topping the conference in opponent field-goal percentage (36.2) and opponent 3-point percentage (28.0). The Sugar Bears' offense is third in the league in field-goal percentage (42.5). Four players average between 9.3 and 12.4 points, with Jade Upshaw topping the list followed closely by super sub Kinley Fisher (12.3).

North Alabama, which will welcome Eastern Kentucky on Thursday ahead of its matchup with Bellarmine, fell 62-55 at Stetson and 84-42 at FGCU last week. The Lions hit a game-winning basket with five seconds left in overtime of a 91-90 victory over Bellarmine on Jan. 18 in Freedom Hall.

North Alabama carries the ASUN's best 3-point percentage (32.3), ranks second in total 3-pointers made (195, 8.1 per game) and is third in scoring (69.5). Alexis Callins leads the league in 3-pointers made (70, nearly 3 per game) and is sixth in scoring (14.6). Sara Wohlgemuth tops the conference in assists (4.7).

Bellarmine concluded "crossover" play against East foes with an 85-76 home win Saturday over Queens highlighted by an astonishing 35-for-36 performance from the free-throw line, including 22-of-23 in the fourth quarter alone.

Hayley Harrison went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe against Queens. The junior guard preceded that with career highs of 15 makes in 18 attempts at the line against Kennesaw State. Harrison ranks first in the ASUN in FTs made (97), second in FT attempts (119) and third in FT percentage (81.5). She's also the conference's fourth-leading scorer (15.4).

After twice coming one rebound shy and once coming two points shy of a double-double, senior forward Cam Browning accomplished the feat against Queens with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Ashlee Harris notched 16 points and sophomore guard Miyah Brown added 15.

Junior guard Sivori is the ASUN leader in total steals (46) while ranking third in assists (4.3) and fifth in 3-pointers made (48).

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