CONWAY, Ark. – Back at home for a second-straight game, the Central Arkansas women's basketball team hosts Austin Peay in an ASUN rematch. The Sugar Bears put a number of streaks on the line against a team that always plays a tough game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Sugar Bears (18-6, 12-1 ASUN) added to those streaks last time out with a home win over North Alabama. Central Arkansas jumped out early on the Lions and never looked back, claiming a 73-52 win. Jade Upshaw burst out of the gates, scoring 11 in the first quarter, and never looked back, leading all players with 21 points. The Sugar Bears extended their ASUN winning streak to 11-straight, and home record to 10-0 this season.
 
Playing at home has been a wonderful thing for Central Arkansas, who has taken advantage of playing in front of Sugar Bear Nation. As a team, the Sugar Bears are outscoring opponents by 27 points and shooting 14 percent better from the floor and 11 percent better from three. Upshaw, in particular, averages 18.2 points per game on 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. Leah Mafua is also hyper-efficient in the Farris Center, averaging 14.9 points per game on 53 percent from the field and 52 percent from three, on 50 attempts.
 
Last time the Sugar Bears faced Austin Peay was a nail biter on the road back in January. Playing a little shorthanded without Mafua, the Sugar Bears had to find an extra offensive punch against a team that always gives Central Arkansas a dog fight. Bree Stephens stepped up, leading her team with 15 points and nine rebounds as the Sugar Bears came away with a one-point win, the second of three-straight one-possession wins on the road. That game also saw Central Arkansas hold the Govs to just three offensive rebounds and zero second chance points, while the Sugar Bears pulled in 13 offensive rebounds for 20 second chance points.
 
Central Arkansas enters Saturday with a 12-1 ASUN record, and with a win, would clinch home advantage at least through the semifinals. Winning on Saturday would put the Sugar Bears up at least four games in the standings over Lipscomb and/or Stetson with four games remaining. And with tie-breakers over both teams, there would be no mathematical way for either to jump Central Arkansas for the No. 2 seed.
 
Austin Peay (10-14, 5-8 ASUN) has lost six in a row since playing Central Arkansas last, and has failed to reach 60 points since the turn of February. Last week, the Govs were beaten at home by Lipscomb, then fell on the road at West Georgia, 70-57. Anovia Sheals scored a game-high 22 off the bench, but the Govs only managed five points in the fourth quarter after entering the frame down just seven.
 
The Govs continue to rely on the scoring of Sa'Mya Wyatt and La'Nya Foster, a duo that combines to score 25.9 points per game in ASUN play. The duo are also numbers one and two on the team in rebounding, highlighting the importance of getting them going to have a chance night in and night out. But Austin Peay averages fewer than four three-pointers per game in a conference filled with good shooters, and the Govs haven't yet found a spot on the floor where they can take advantage, neither near the rim nor at the free throw line.
 
But since joining the ASUN, Austin Peay has consistently been a thorn in the side of Central Arkansas. In four meetings, the Govs have won two by an average of 11.5 points, while the two wins for Central Arkansas have each been by one point.
 
Tip-off on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. in the Farris Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online. As always, Sugar Bear fans can keep up with all the action at 91.3 The Bear, with Steve Owens on the call.