Liberty University
10-8, 7-2BSC
Longwood
5-14, 2-8BSC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 11 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 72 |
| Longwood | 17 | 15 | 9 | 26 | 67 |
Kearney, Adams Star in 72-67 Win at Longwood
1/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Liberty was able to recover from a 10-point first-half deficit during Sunday afternoon's contest at Longwood, thanks in large part to its starting post players, Catherine Kearney (20 points) and Katelyn Adams (11 points, 12 rebounds). The Lady Flames then survived a wild final minute to post a 72-67 victory inside Willett Hall.
In a game delayed 24 hours due to heavy snowfall in Central Virginia, Liberty's shooting was anything but cold. Kearney (8-8) and Adams (5-5) made all 13 of their field goal attempts, helping the Lady Flames shoot 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from the field and enjoy a 38-10 advantage inside the paint.
Mickayla Sanders chipped in 15 points and Liberty made 9-of-10 free throw attempts during the final 2:29 of the Lady Flames' third straight win and seventh victory in their last eight outings. Liberty improves to 10-8 overall and is part of a four-way tie atop the Big South standings at 7-2.
Longwood falls to 5-14 overall and 2-8 in the Big South with its fifth straight loss overall and its 14th consecutive setback to the Lady Flames. The Lancers hit a season-high 11 three-pointers on the afternoon and scored 11 points during the final 47.3 seconds.
Longwood made four three-pointers during the first quarter, including Raven Williams' buzzer-beating half-court shot which gave the Lancers a 17-11 advantage through 10 minutes. Longwood also forced eight Liberty turnovers during the opening period.
The Lancers hit two more triples during the first 2:03 of the second period, taking a 23-13 advantage on Deborah Headen's three-pointer, 7:57 before halftime. Kearney helped Liberty battle back, scoring nine second-quarter points, including a layup at 1:20 which capped a 6-0 run and put the Lady Flames on top, 30-29. However, Ashlee Jones made Longwood's seventh triple of the opening half, giving Longwood a 32-30 edge at the intermission.
Kearney made all six of her field goals during her 13-point first half, helping the Lady Flames shoot 60.9 percent (14-of-23) and score 22 points in the paint. Williams had 10 points for the Lancers, who converted 14 Liberty turnovers into 15 points before halftime.
Adams scored the final three points of a 7-0 Liberty run, putting the Lady Flames in front, 43-36, with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter. After a pair of banked-in baskets by Micaela Ellis pulled Longwood to within 44-41, the Lady Flames closed the period with another 7-0 surge. Sadalia Ellis scored five of the points, including a layup as the buzzer sounded, boosting Liberty's lead to 51-41.
Liberty took its biggest lead of the game (61-46) when Sanders nailed a three-pointer with 6:07 left. The Lady Flames' advantage was still 13 points (69-56) after two Candice Leatherwood free throws at the 1:13 mark.
Williams and Headen then combined to score all 11 of Longwood's points during the final 47.3 seconds. But the home team got no closer than the final margin of five, as Stephanie Patton made two free throws and Leatherwood split a pair to keep the Lancers at arm's length.
For the game, Liberty shot 78.9 percent (15-of-19) at the foul line, including 82.4 percent (14-of-17) after halftime. The Lady Flames outrebounded their fifth straight opponent (36-24) and scored 13 second-chance points.
Longwood shot a better percentage from three-point range (37.9 percent, 11-of-29) than overall from the field (35.6 percent, 21-of-59). The Lancers turned Liberty's 20 turnovers into 26 points and tallied 36 bench points.
Kearney's fourth 20-point game of the season moves the New Jersey native into 50th place on Liberty's career scoring list with 566 career points. She is the first Lady Flame to take seven or more field goals without a miss since Avery Warley went 8-for-8 from the field at North Carolina A&T on Nov. 18, 2011.
Adams notched her second double-double of the season and the 11th of her career, while tying her season high of 11 points.
Sanders scored in double figures for the fourth time in the last six games for the Lady Flames.
Ellis scored all seven of her points during the second half, while KK Barbour came off the bench with a career-high seven points. The freshman also set career highs for assists (3) and steals (3) while tying her career high of three rebounds.
Williams paced three double-digit scorers for Longwood with 14 points. Headen and Autumn Childress added 10 points apiece. Eight different Lancers made at least one three-pointer.
Liberty will return home for its next two games, beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. versus Big South co-leader Gardner-Webb (13-6, 7-2 Big South). The Runnin' Bulldogs edged the Lady Flames, 61-57, in both teams' Big South opener, Dec. 2 in Boiling Springs, N.C.
