Lady Flames Roll Past WSSU in Season Opener

Liberty's defense set the tone for its season-opening victory over Winston-Salem State Friday evening, keeping the Lady Rams off the scoreboard for the first 8:44 of play. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Devon Brown took care of things at the offensive end, exploding for 26 points in the Lady Flames' 71-26 triumph at the Vines Center.

Liberty, which converted 32 Winston-Salem State turnovers into 35 points, opens its season at 1-0 for the sixth time in the last eight years.

Winston-Salem State, limited to 26.2 percent field goal shooting, begins the year at 0-1.

As previously mentioned, the Rams did not find the bottom of the net for the first 8:44, as Liberty jumped out to a 13-0 lead. The first seven points of Brown's collegiate career came during the Lady Flames' game-opening surge.

The Rams scored six of the contest's next seven markers, trimming their deficit to 14-6 on Jillian Charlet's layup at the 6:38 mark of the opening half.

However, Winston-Salem State managed only six points for the remainder of the stanza, while Liberty's lead ballooned to 18. Brown sent the Lady Flames into halftime with a 30-12 advantage, swishing back-to-back triples in the final minute of the period to close out at 15-point half.

Neither team shot exceptionally well from the field during the opening 20 minutes. Liberty connected on 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of its attempts and the Lady Rams shot at a 31.6 percent (6-of-19) clip. The Lady Flames controlled the glass, outrebounding WSSU, 21-9.

Kylee Beecher complemented Brown's offensive output with eight first-half points, while fellow starting post player Avery Warley paced the squad with six rebounds before the break.

Liberty put the game away with a 20-4 run to open the second half, sparked by a pair of freshmen. Brown had 13 points and LaKendra Washington tallied five markers during the surge, which lasted 9:09.

Winston-Salem State got no closer than 31 for the remainder of the contest, and the Lady Flames went on to wrap up a 45-point win, 71-26. It was the fewest points a Liberty opponent has scored since the Lady Flames limited Winthrop to 26 markers on Feb. 28, 2005.

Liberty made 16 of 29 field goals (55.2 percent) after the break, lifting its final field goal percentage for the game to 47.4. Meanwhile, the Rams made only five second-half field goals and ended the game shooting 26.2 percent. The Lady Flames also won the rebounding battle, 39-25.

Brown shot 11 of 14 from the field and drained three of her five triples for 26 points, the highest scoring output by a Lady Flame in her collegiate debut since Nov. 23, 1996. That evening, Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer Elena Kisseleva racked up 30 points against Bluefield.

Brown also nabbed seven rebounds, tying her with Danika Dale for second most in the game. Warley's nine caroms paced all players.

Amber Mays totaled a team-high six assists and added four steals for the Lady Flames. Meanwhile, Washington came up with a game-high five steals and nine points in the Milwaukee, Wis., native's collegiate debut.

Rene Rector led visiting Winston-Salem State with six points, while Vontisha Woods grabbed a team-leading five rebounds.

Liberty will remain at home for its second game of the season, a Tuesday evening contest versus UNC Greensboro. The contest, which is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff, will mark the Spartans' first visit to the Vines Center since the 1997 Big South Championship title game. That evening, Liberty won its first of 12 Big South championships.

Meanwhile, Winston-Salem State will play its second consecutive Big South opponent to open the season. The Lady Rams are slated for a contest at Gardner-Webb, Monday at 6 p.m.

Schedule

Lady Flames Roll Past WSSU in Season Opener

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Team Stats

Devon Brown

LaKendra Washington

Kylee Beecher

Rachel McLeod

Players Mentioned

Kylee Beecher

Devon Brown

Danika Dale

Amber Mays

Avery Warley

LaKendra Washington