LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's basketball team will begin a three-game homestand by welcoming Lipscomb for a 6:30 p.m. (ET) contest Thursday before hosting Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. Saturday.

ABOUT LIPSCOMB
Lipscomb (8-15, 5-7 ASUN) is coming off a pair of losses, falling 61-55 at home against Eastern Kentucky and 60-47 at Central Arkansas. The Bisons notably notched a 53-44 road win over reigning ASUN champion FGCU (tied fifth ASUN) and a 67-53 home victory over Stetson (tied second). Lipscomb boasts the conference's top two in total blocks in guards Hope Counts (53) and McKayla Miller (40). Guard Molly Heard is tied for the league lead in total steals (52) and is ninth in scoring (13.6). Miller ranks 14th in the ASUN in scoring (12.0) and is fifth in total 3-pointers made (47).

ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Ahead of its meeting with Bellarmine, Central Arkansas (14-10, 7-5) will play Thursday at Eastern Kentucky, and the Sugar Bears will carry a three-game winning streak into that contest with the ASUN-leading Colonels. Coming off the aforementioned win over Lipscomb and another 59-48 home victory over North Alabama last week, UCA is the conference leader in scoring defense (58.5) and opponent field-goal percentage (35.6) while ranking second in rebounding margin (plus-4.6). Offensively, the Sugar Bears are atop the league in 3-pointers made per game (8.9). Guard Shae Littleford ranks fourth in the ASUN in scoring (14.6) and guard Cheyanne Kemp is 11th (13.2). Forward Bree Stephens ranks third in the league in total blocks (36) and fourth in rebounding (7.3) and total steals (43).

KNIGHTS NOTES
• Lipscomb owns a 6-3 series lead over Bellarmine. The teams split last season's two meetings, each winning on the other's home floor. The Knights captured an 86-79 win in Nashville before the Bisons posted a 76-71 victory in Louisville. BU is 2-2 against LU at home.
• Central Arkansas owns a 6-2 series lead over Bellarmine. The teams are meeting for the second time this season, with the Sugar Bears recording an 85-29 home win on Jan. 8.
• Bellarmine will meet Lipscomb a second time this season. The Bisons will host the Knights on Feb. 25.
• Bellarmine's three-game homestand also represents the Knights' final three home games of 2025-26. The team will conclude the regular season with three straight road outings.
• Bellarmine is coming off a four-game road swing. Last week, the Knights were defeated 79-40 by FGCU and 76-41 by Stetson.
• Due to an epidemic of injuries, Bellarmine (2-23, 0-12) has competed with as few as six players and no more than 11 in each of the last 20 games. The late January/February numbers have only increased due to the addition of several walk-ons. On Saturday against Stetson, the Knights competed with five scholarship players and six January walk-ons.
• The usage of the January walk-ons has been significant. For instance, Olivia Pifer is averaging 27.2 minutes per game over 10 contests, Maddie Janszen 19.8 over four and Clare Slocum 14.5 over four. Despite being only 5-4, Pifer has collected three rebounds or more in eight of her 10 performances and has a pair of seven-rebound games along with a pair of four-steal outings.
• Ava Smith supplied career highs of 19 points and five 3-pointers made against Stetson. The sophomore guard is tied for seventh in the ASUN in 3-pointers made with 44. She's knocked down three triples or more in seven games and scored in double figures 11 times.
• Kayce Hyman is averaging a team-high 12.8 points per game in ASUN play. The sophomore forward registered at least 13 points in eight conference outings, with a career high of 19 against league leader Eastern Kentucky. Among qualifiers, Hyman ranks third in the ASUN in FT percentage (80.9). She's fourth in FTs made (76) and seventh in attempts (94).
• Smith and Hyman both rank in the top 15 in the ASUN in minutes per game. Smith is fifth (33.5) and Hyman is 14th (30.6).

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