CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas women's basketball team is back in action with just four games remaining in the regular season. Up next, the Sugar Bears host Austin Peay on Wednesday, tipping off in the Farris Center at 6:30 p.m.
 
Central Arkansas (16-10, 9-5 ASUN) picked up a very important win last week, defeating the previously unbeaten Eastern Kentucky University Colonels on Thursday in Richmond. The win proved a number of things for Central Arkansas, namely, that the Sugar Bears still have much to fight for this season. The defense continued to frustrate and shut down opponents, holding EKU to a season-worst 48 points. Shae Littleford led the way on the other side with 18 points, earning herself an ASUN Newcomer of the Week award.
 
The Sugar Bears followed that performance up with a dominant showing against the shorthanded Bellarmine Knights. In a game that saw every player make an impact, Central Arkansas controlled the game from start to finish as expected, walking away with an 85-37 win. It extended the Sugar Bears' winning streak to five games, and the defense during the winning streak has been special, holding opponents to 43.8 points per game, forcing 96 turnovers and scoring 99 points off of those turnovers. Central Arkansas now firmly has the second-best scoring defense in the ASUN during conference games, allowing just 56.1 points per game over the 14 league contests.
 
Going up against Austin Peay, this meeting marks the only matchup between the Sugar Bears and Governors this season. The teams have met five times since both teams have been in the ASUN, splitting the series 3-2 in favor of the Sugar Bears. Two of the three wins for Central Arkansas have been by one point, but last year's game in Conway went in favor of the Sugar Bears by ten points.
 
This season's Austin Peay squad is 14-10 overall and 6-8 in ASUN games. Most recently, the Govs dropped a home game against West Georgia, falling 95-74 after dominating Queens 85-47 on Thursday. Austin Peay has been a peculiar team this season, winning 10 of its 12 road games, but only 4 of its 12 games at home. In the two home games last week, Anovia Sheals averaged 18.0 points per game, including a 23-point burst against West Georgia, tying a season-high.
 
Sheals leads her team in scoring this year, averaging 14.0 points per game. She's one of two Governors to average double-digit scoring, with Jim'Miyah Branton chipping in 10.3 ppg. Austin Peay makes its mark with its rebounding and efficiency down low. The Govs outrebound their opponents by more than seven boards per game, and pull down offensive rebounds on more than 40 percent of their misses. That leads to easy buckets around the rim, where six players with at least ten made shots this year shoot better than 48 percent from the field.
 
Tip-off against Austin Peay is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online. Fans can also follow the action at The Bear 91.3, with Steve Owens on the call.