Saturday, January 9
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM
Liberty University
9-4, 1-1BSC
67
vs
38
Winthrop
6-8, 1-1BSC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winthrop | 16 | 22 | 38 |
| Liberty | 24 | 43 | 67 |
Defense Keys Lady Flames 67-38 Win
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Liberty broke open a defensive struggle with an 18-0 run which spanned both halves of its Big South contest against Winthrop Saturday evening. The Lady Flames went on to post their first conference victory of the 2009-10 season, by a 67-38 margin at the Vines Center.
Liberty, now 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big South, came up with 14 steals and scored 29 points off Winthrop turnovers. The Lady Flames have now won 18 consecutive home meetings with the Eagles and 39 straight January home games.
Winthrop falls to 6-8 overall and 1-1 in conference play, after losing for the fourth time in its last six games. The Eagles shot just 31.7 percent (13-of-41) from the floor and missed 12 consecutive field goals at one point.
After a sluggish opening five minutes by both teams, Avery Warley's layup off of a nice Amber Mays assist gave Liberty a 5-2 advantage with 14:39 remaining in the opening half.
Winthrop then reeled off the game's next 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Kaitlyn Rubino's layup at 11:21 capped the run, lifting the Eagles to a 12-5 lead.
Winthrop did not score again for 9:46, during which time Liberty posted a 10-0 surge of its own. Dymond Morgan scored six of the Lady Flames' points, including a free throw 5:38 before the half which put Liberty in front, 15-12.
The Eagles trimmed the deficit to a single point, 17-16, at 1:21, when Shanice Cole hit a pair of free throws.
The Lady Flames then closed the stanza with a 7-0 burst, highlighted by a nifty three-point play. Rachel McLeod hit Devon Brown with a behind-the-back pass in transition, setting the redshirt freshman up for a left-handed layup. Brown sank the shot as she was fouled and was able to complete the old-fashioned three-point play from the charity stripe. In total, Brown contributed five points and a rebound to the half-ending run.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball from the field during the opening 20 minutes. Liberty made 39.1 percent (9-of-23) of its field goal attempts, while Winthrop hit just 23.8 percent (5-of-21). The Eagles misfired on 10 consecutive field goals to end the half.
Liberty continued a season-long trend of controlling the painted area. The Lady Flames outrebounded the Eagles before intermission, 19-12 and scored 14 points in the paint to Winthrop's six.
Brown scored seven of her half-leading nine points during the final 1:32 of the stanza and added four rebounds for the Lady Flames. Morgan and Danika Dale gave Liberty a spark off the bench, contributing six points and four rebounds, respectively.
Cole's six first-half points paced the Winthrop attack, while Lacey Lyons corralled four rebounds.
The Lady Flames tallied the second half's first 11 points, extending their overall run to 18-0 and their advantage to 19. Brown's three-pointer from the right wing gave Liberty a 35-16 cushion with 17:14 remaining.
Winthrop finally ended a drought of 14:36 between made free throws on its ensuing possession, when Cole hit a driving right-handed layup.
Hot-shooting Liberty then put the game away with a 13-2 run, featuring seven more points by Brown. Kylee Beecher's three-point play bolstered the Lady Flames' edge to 48-20 with 12:38 left. Liberty opened the second half by connecting on 13 of its first 15 field goal tries.
The Eagles got no closer than 25 the rest of the evening, and Liberty led by as many as 35 points before closing out a 67-38 triumph.
Liberty shot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field during the second half, pushing its field goal percentage to 50.9 percent (27-of-53) for the contest. The Lady Flames are now 64-0 under head coach Carey Green when making at least half of their field goals.
The Lady Flames continued their strong rebounding in the second half, finishing the contest with a 37-21 edge on the boards. Liberty also outscored the Eagles in the paint, 34-12, marking the 13th consecutive time the Lady Flames have owned the advantage in that statistical category.
Liberty tallied assists on 22 of its 27 made baskets, including a career-high 10 helpers by Mays. Her assist total was the most by a Lady Flame since Daina Staugaitiene totaled 10 assists versus Morgan State, Nov. 22, 2002.
Brown went over the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season, finishing with a game-high 21 points and sharing the team lead with six boards. Jelena Antic also nabbed six rebounds, to go along with nine points.
Bench players also played a key role in Liberty's victory, led by Morgan's career-high 11 points. Meanwhile, freshman LaKendra Washington spearheaded the Lady Flames' defensive showing with three steals.
Cole was the only Winthrop player to score in double digits, ending up with 10 points. Sarah Scott chipped in seven points off coach Bud Childers' bench. Lyons and Chanel White claimed four rebounds apiece, sharing team-high honors for the Eagles.
Liberty will remain at home for a Tuesday non-conference tilt against Route 460 rival Longwood. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Vines Center.
Winthrop's Commonwealth road trip will continue Monday evening. The Eagles will travel to Radford for a Big South contest, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m. at the Dedmon Center.
Liberty, now 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big South, came up with 14 steals and scored 29 points off Winthrop turnovers. The Lady Flames have now won 18 consecutive home meetings with the Eagles and 39 straight January home games.
Winthrop falls to 6-8 overall and 1-1 in conference play, after losing for the fourth time in its last six games. The Eagles shot just 31.7 percent (13-of-41) from the floor and missed 12 consecutive field goals at one point.
After a sluggish opening five minutes by both teams, Avery Warley's layup off of a nice Amber Mays assist gave Liberty a 5-2 advantage with 14:39 remaining in the opening half.
Winthrop then reeled off the game's next 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Kaitlyn Rubino's layup at 11:21 capped the run, lifting the Eagles to a 12-5 lead.
Winthrop did not score again for 9:46, during which time Liberty posted a 10-0 surge of its own. Dymond Morgan scored six of the Lady Flames' points, including a free throw 5:38 before the half which put Liberty in front, 15-12.
The Eagles trimmed the deficit to a single point, 17-16, at 1:21, when Shanice Cole hit a pair of free throws.
The Lady Flames then closed the stanza with a 7-0 burst, highlighted by a nifty three-point play. Rachel McLeod hit Devon Brown with a behind-the-back pass in transition, setting the redshirt freshman up for a left-handed layup. Brown sank the shot as she was fouled and was able to complete the old-fashioned three-point play from the charity stripe. In total, Brown contributed five points and a rebound to the half-ending run.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball from the field during the opening 20 minutes. Liberty made 39.1 percent (9-of-23) of its field goal attempts, while Winthrop hit just 23.8 percent (5-of-21). The Eagles misfired on 10 consecutive field goals to end the half.
Liberty continued a season-long trend of controlling the painted area. The Lady Flames outrebounded the Eagles before intermission, 19-12 and scored 14 points in the paint to Winthrop's six.
Brown scored seven of her half-leading nine points during the final 1:32 of the stanza and added four rebounds for the Lady Flames. Morgan and Danika Dale gave Liberty a spark off the bench, contributing six points and four rebounds, respectively.
Cole's six first-half points paced the Winthrop attack, while Lacey Lyons corralled four rebounds.
The Lady Flames tallied the second half's first 11 points, extending their overall run to 18-0 and their advantage to 19. Brown's three-pointer from the right wing gave Liberty a 35-16 cushion with 17:14 remaining.
Winthrop finally ended a drought of 14:36 between made free throws on its ensuing possession, when Cole hit a driving right-handed layup.
Hot-shooting Liberty then put the game away with a 13-2 run, featuring seven more points by Brown. Kylee Beecher's three-point play bolstered the Lady Flames' edge to 48-20 with 12:38 left. Liberty opened the second half by connecting on 13 of its first 15 field goal tries.
The Eagles got no closer than 25 the rest of the evening, and Liberty led by as many as 35 points before closing out a 67-38 triumph.
Liberty shot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field during the second half, pushing its field goal percentage to 50.9 percent (27-of-53) for the contest. The Lady Flames are now 64-0 under head coach Carey Green when making at least half of their field goals.
The Lady Flames continued their strong rebounding in the second half, finishing the contest with a 37-21 edge on the boards. Liberty also outscored the Eagles in the paint, 34-12, marking the 13th consecutive time the Lady Flames have owned the advantage in that statistical category.
Liberty tallied assists on 22 of its 27 made baskets, including a career-high 10 helpers by Mays. Her assist total was the most by a Lady Flame since Daina Staugaitiene totaled 10 assists versus Morgan State, Nov. 22, 2002.
Brown went over the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season, finishing with a game-high 21 points and sharing the team lead with six boards. Jelena Antic also nabbed six rebounds, to go along with nine points.
Bench players also played a key role in Liberty's victory, led by Morgan's career-high 11 points. Meanwhile, freshman LaKendra Washington spearheaded the Lady Flames' defensive showing with three steals.
Cole was the only Winthrop player to score in double digits, ending up with 10 points. Sarah Scott chipped in seven points off coach Bud Childers' bench. Lyons and Chanel White claimed four rebounds apiece, sharing team-high honors for the Eagles.
Liberty will remain at home for a Tuesday non-conference tilt against Route 460 rival Longwood. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Vines Center.
Winthrop's Commonwealth road trip will continue Monday evening. The Eagles will travel to Radford for a Big South contest, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m. at the Dedmon Center.
Team Stats
WINTHROP
LIBERTY
FG%
.317
.509
3FG%
.333
.385
FT%
.692
.727
RB
21
37
TO
20
16
STL
4
14
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
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