LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team is back in Knights Hall this week for Atlantic Sun Conference play, welcoming Austin Peay for a 6:30 p.m. (ET) contest Thursday and conference co-leader Eastern Kentucky for a 2 p.m. showdown Saturday.

ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY
Austin Peay (10-4, 2-2 ASUN) is among the teams in a five-way tie for fourth in the ASUN at 2-2 in league play. Two close home losses last week have kept the Governors from being undefeated in conference action, as they fell 58-54 to FGCU and 56-53 to Stetson. Austin Peay ranks 19th in the country in rebounding margin (plus-9.9) and is far and away the ASUN leader in that category. The Governors rank second in the conference in both scoring defense (56.6) and field-goal percentage defense (.365), and they're also second in field-goal percentage offense (.435). Guard and Preseason All-ASUN Team pick Anovia Sheals is the ASUN's fourth-leading scorer (14.4) and poured in 21 points against FGCU.

ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky (13-4, 4-0) is one of two teams — the other being reigning ASUN champion FGCU — that is undefeated in conference play. The Colonels, who will host Lipscomb on Thursday, posted a pair of road wins last week, topping North Alabama 80-78 and Central Arkansas 64-54. EKU is the ASUN leader in scoring offense (75.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.14) and free-throw percentage (.742). The Colonels also are top four in field-goal percentage defense (.371) and scoring defense (61.4). Guard Liz Freihofer, a Preseason All-ASUN Team selection, ranks fifth in the ASUN in scoring (14.2) and had a 26-point outburst against North Alabama. Forward Joseana Vaz is the conference's seventh-leading rebounder (7.3) and ninth-leading scorer (13.1) while guard Althea Kara Angeles ranks second in the league in assists (4.2).

KNIGHTS NOTES
• Austin Peay holds a 5-1 series lead over Bellarmine (2-15, 0-4), and Eastern Kentucky holds a 12-3 series advantage over the Knights. The Governors and the Colonels both swept the two regular-season meetings last season.
• APSU and EKU mark the first two of a season-long four-game homestand for Bellarmine, which will follow by hosting North Florida (Jan. 22) and Jacksonville (Jan. 24). Six of BU's first eight ASUN matchups are in Knights Hall.
• Bellarmine is certainly looking forward to an extended stretch at home. The Knights are coming off a segment of the schedule in which seven of nine games were on the road, including the entirety of their December slate.
• These are the first of two meetings this season between Bellarmine and its two opponents. Austin Peay will host the Knights on Feb. 21, and Eastern Kentucky will welcome them on Feb. 27.
• Bellarmine is coming off its first road week in ASUN play. The Knights fell 85-29 at Central Arkansas and 67-52 at North Alabama.
• Bellarmine was more competitive with North Alabama than the final score indicated. The Knights outscored the Lions in two of the quarters (12-9 in the second, 18-16 in the fourth) and were solid in another (trailed 17-11 after one). However, a decisive third quarter was BU's undoing, as UNA outscored the Knights 25-11 in the frame.
• Due to an epidemic of injuries, Bellarmine has competed with either seven or eight players in each of the last 12 games.
• Senior center Patricia Sherrill came off the bench against UNA to record career highs in points (11) and field goals made (five) while her eight rebounds were one shy of matching a career best.
• Freshman guard Olivia Pifer, a BU field hockey player who recently joined the injury-riddled Knights, sank a 3-pointer against UNA on her first collegiate shot. She had five points against the Lions, including a pair of FTs, and has zero turnovers in 40 total minutes in two games.
• Sophomore forward Kayce Hyman is averaging a team-high 11.8 ppg in ASUN play, including a 16-point effort against West Georgia.
• Sophomore guard Ava Smith's 27 3-pointers made rank seventh in the ASUN.

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