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    SAN ANTONIO _ Perimeter defense will be a priority when the University of Central Arkansas Bears take on the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Friday night at the McDermott Convocation Center.

    The Bears (5-15, 4-6) lead the Southland Conference three-point percentage, hitting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals (12-9, 7-3) lead the conference in three-pointers made per game at 7.9.

    "They are the top three-point shooting team in the league,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell after UCA's 88-72 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday. "So our zone will be tested. We'll have to do a good job of getting out on shooters and trying to locate them. And just kind of keep doing what we're doing on the offensive end. 

    "I do believe the rest of the way Jordan (Howard) is going to see box-and-ones and nose-to-nose defense like he saw tonight. And we'll have to make some tweeks over the next two or three days.'

    The Bears are riding a two-game winning streak and perimeter shooting had been a big part of it. Over the past five games, UCA had made 46 three-pointers and shot 43.4 percent from three-point range. The Bears are 3-2 in that span.

    UCA made 10 three-pointers in a 94-83 win at Nicholls on Jan. 23, and followed that up with a season-high 13 in a loss at New Orelans. After making seven threes in a loss at Northwestern State on Feb. 2, the Bears nailed nine in a 112-77 win over New Orleans in the rematch in Conway, and added seven more in Tuesday's 88-72 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

    Sophomore guard Jordan Howard is responsible for 23 of the 46 three-pointers, hitting seven at New Orleans and making six against both Northwestern State and New Orleans the second time around. Howard is first in the SLC in three-pointers made (75) and second in three-point percentage (45.5). 
  
    Howard is not alone as a perimter shooter on the Bears' roster. Junior Derreck Brooks has made 27 three-pointers and senior Justin Foreman 19.

    The Cardinals have their sharpshooters as well. Senior Kyle Hittle has made 43 threes this season, seventh in the SLC, and is not even the most accurate UIW player from beyond the arc. Sophomore Shawn Johnson is hitting 41.3 percent (31 of 75) and senior Mitchell Badillo is at 39.6 percent (21 of 53). Sophomore Jontrell Walker has made another 36 three-pointers for the Cardinals.

    Incarnate Word is second in the league in three-point percentage at 36.3 percent.