WBB Game Day: Norfolk State
11/29/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Day Central page
Game Day Links:
Live Video (ESPN+)
Live Audio (LFSN Radio)
Live Stats
Liberty Game Notes
Liberty Women's Basketball Instagram
Liberty Women's Basketball Twitter
Liberty Women's Basketball Facebook
Norfolk State Women's Basketball Webpage
ASUN Women's Basketball Webpage
Game Time:
Tuesday - 7 p.m.
TV Coverage:
ESPN+
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Rett McGibbon
Color Analyst: Kelley Deyo
Radio Coverage:
Liberty Flames Sports Network - Radio
WQLU 90.9 FM The Light
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Jamie Hall
The Starting 5 - Liberty's Top Storylines
• Liberty (0-2, 0-0 ASUN) will host Norfolk State (1-1, 0-0 MEAC) Tuesday for the first-ever athletic event at the 4,000-seat Liberty Arena.
• The Lady Flames will hope to carry over their tradition of success from 30 seasons playing next door at the Vines Center. Liberty went 308-83 all-time on its previous home court. Tuesday's game will take place almost exactly 30 years to the day after the inaugural game at the Vines Center, a 69-61 men's basketball loss to VMI on Nov. 30, 1990.
• The Lady Flames and Spartans are squaring off for the third consecutive season, having split their last two meetings.
• Emily Lytle is pacing the Lady Flames in both scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg) early on this season and is eight points away from 800 for her career. She has made 19 straight free throws dating back to last season. The program record is 26.
• Fellow senior Ashtyn Baker, who just scored her 800th career point during Saturday's 81-66 setback at Virginia Tech, is averaging 15.5 ppg during two career matchups with Norfolk State.
Notes and Anecdotes - Liberty vs. Norfolk State
• Tuesday's game will be a rubber match of sorts between the Lady Flames and Spartans. Norfolk State topped Liberty by a 66-53 score in the Christmas City Classic consolation game, Nov. 25, 2018 in Bethlehem, Pa. The Lady Flames responded with a 67-48 triumph at Norfolk State in both teams' 2019-20 season opener, Nov. 5, 2019.
• Norfolk State is visiting Lynchburg for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006. Liberty posted a 91-53 victory at the Vines Center in both teams' 2006-07 season opener, paced by Megan Frazee's 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
• Like Liberty, Norfolk State saw a promising 2019-20 season cut short. The Spartans had reached the MEAC Tournament semifinals before the tournament was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NSU finished 19-11, totaling its most wins since the 2001-02 season. However, all five starters from that squad have since departed.
• Picked to win the MEAC North Division this season, Norfolk State is off to a 1-1 start led by Towson transfer Jalynn Holmes (18.0 ppg).
• Ashtyn Baker has enjoyed success during each of her two previous meetings with the Spartans, pacing the Lady Flames in scoring during both contests with an average of 15.5 ppg. She is shooting 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from three-point range against Norfolk State.
Home Openers
• Liberty, which will be playing at Liberty Arena for the first time on Tuesday, is 26-19 all-time in home openers, including 13-8 under Carey Green.
• The Lady Flames dropped their last two home openers at the Vines Center, including a 63-62 loss to ETSU (Nov. 8, 2019) a season ago.
• ETSU also spoiled the Lady Flames' Vines Center debut 30 years ago with an 86-74 decision on Dec. 7, 1990. However, Liberty went on to post a 308-83 all-time record there.
• The Lady Flames bring a five-game home winning streak into their new facility. The streak began Feb. 3, 2020 against Kennesaw State.
