Liberty University
0-1,0-0ASUN
Ohio
1-0,0-0MAC
Ohio Tops Liberty 76-72 in Opener with Strong 2nd Half
11/25/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
After Liberty led Wednesday afternoon's season opener at Ohio by as many as 14 points during the first half, the Bobcats came roaring back after halftime. Erica Johnson scored 20 of her 31 points during the second half, sparking Ohio to a 76-72 triumph at the Convocation Center.
Emily Lytle paced Liberty (0-1) with 21 points and five of her team's school record-tying 12 triples. However, the Lady Flames went cold at the offensive end (11-of-33 for 33.3 percent) and were outrebounded 24-17 during the final 20 minutes.
Ohio (1-0) got 49 points and 15 rebounds from its Preseason All-MAC duo of Johnson (31 points, 8 rebounds) and CeCe Hooks (18 points, 7 rebounds).
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Bridgette Rettstatt – 13 points; Mya Berkman – 10 points, 7 rebounds; Ashtyn Baker – 10 points, 7 rebounds; Nenna Lindstrom – 9 points, 3-4 3FG.
Other Ohio Individuals: Caitlyn Kroll – 8 points.
Key Team Stats: The two teams combined for 20 three-pointers, with the Lady Flames shooting 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) and the Bobcats going 8-of-28 (28.6 percent). Ohio made 10 more free throws than Liberty, shooting 22-of-28 (78.6 percent) from the stripe. Liberty finished with a slim 38-37 rebounding edge. The Lady Flames scored 25 bench points to Ohio's four.
Turning Point
Liberty led 42-33 with 8:39 to play in the third quarter after Bridgette Rettstatt's three-pointer dropped through the net. Ohio then outscored the Lady Flames 22-4 over the next 7:49, taking a 55-46 lead on Deesh Beck's jumper at the 48-second mark of the stanza. Ohio never trailed again.
Johnson scored 10 of the Bobcats' points during the pivotal run, highlighted by three-pointers on back-to-back possessions.
Game Summary
First Quarter
• The Lady Flames led by as many as 13 points during the opening period on their way to a 25-14 advantage through 10 minutes of play. Seniors Lytle and Rettstatt scored eight points apiece, with Lytle knocking down two of Liberty's four triples during the stanza.
Second Quarter
• Baker's triple one minute into the second quarter boosted Liberty's lead to 14 (28-14). Ohio responded with a 9-0 burst, pulling back within five. The two teams were separated by that same five-point margin at halftime, with the Lady Flames owning a 37-32 edge.
• Ohio's Johnson scored nine of her team-high 11 first-half points during the second quarter, leading her team's comeback efforts.
Third Quarter
• During what turned out to be a decisive period, Ohio outscored the Lady Flames, 23-11. Liberty shot just 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent during the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
• Lytle knocked down a pair of three-pointers during a 7-0 Liberty burst in a 19-second span early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 57-55. But Kroll countered with a trifecta of her own on Ohio's next possession.
• Liberty kept fighting to the final buzzer, getting three-pointers from Lytle and Nenna Lindstrom in the final 10 seconds of the game. But Ohio had already sealed the victory by making six-of-eight free throw tries over the matinee's final minute.
Notes and Nuggets
• Lytle matched her career high of five triples and scored 20+ points for the third straight game, dating back to last season. She becomes the first Lady Flame with three consecutive 20-point games since Megan Frazee (Feb. 2-16, 2009).
• Rettstatt's 13-point game came during her first career collegiate contest in her home state of Ohio. It was Liberty's first game played in Ohio since Nov. 25, 2007 at Xavier.
• Lindstrom tied her career highs for points (9) and three-pointers made (3) off the Liberty bench.
• Liberty has now hit a dozen three-pointers in a game three times in program history. The Lady Flames previously did so twice against Charleston Southern (Jan. 22, 1991 and Jan. 3, 2017).
• Wednesday's game marked the Lady Flames' first loss since Feb. 8, 2020 at North Alabama. Liberty won eight straight contests to close out the 2019-20 season.
• Liberty and Ohio met on the hardwood for the first time, and this was the Lady Flames' first time ever playing on a MAC team's home court. Liberty is now 4-2 all-time versus MAC foes.
Up Next
The Lady Flames will play their second straight road game to begin the 2020-21 campaign, Saturday at Virginia Tech. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.
Liberty will visit Virginia Tech for the second straight season, seeking to avenge a hard-fought 73-69 defeat on Nov. 15, 2019. The Lady Flames are in search of their first win over an ACC opponent in 12 years.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020
Location: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
TV: ACC Network Extra
Radio: LFSN Radio (90.9 FM The Light Lynchburg)
Tipoff: 2 p.m.
