Liberty University
17-7,12-4ASUN
FGCU
23-2,16-0ASUN
Liberty Drops 65-50 Defensive Struggle at No. 24 FGCU in Regular-Season Finale
3/6/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In a game where both teams fell well short of their season scoring averages, No. 24 FGCU got the upper hand. The Eagles completed a series sweep and an unbeaten ASUN Conference record with a 65-50 triumph over Liberty, Saturday evening at Alico Arena.
Liberty wraps up the regular season at 17-7 overall and 12-4 in ASUN play, earning a runner-up finish in the final conference standings. The Lady Flames, who entered the game averaging 73.5 ppg, were limited to a season-low 50 tallies on Saturday. Liberty committed 19 turnovers, shot just 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the field and connected on a season-low two triples.
FGCU's 22nd straight win moves the Eagles' record to 23-2 overall and 16-0 in the ASUN. The Eagles' 65 points were their lowest in an ASUN game this season, as they shot only 35.4 percent (23-of-65). However, 14 of FGCU's 23 made field goals were of the three-point variety, and the Eagles put four players into double figures.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Ashtyn Baker – 10 points, 6 rebounds; Bridgette Rettstatt – 8 points, 9 rebounds; Emily Lytle – 8 points, 4 rebounds; Mya Berkman – 8 points, 4 rebounds.
FGCU Individuals: Kierstan Bell – 17 points, 5 rebounds; Tyra Cox – 15 points, 5 assists, 3 steals; Tishara Morehouse – 15 points; Andrea Cecil – 10 points, 3-4 3FG, 3 steals.
Key Team Stats: The Eagles made as many three-pointers as Liberty attempted. FGCU shot 14-of-50 from beyond the arc, while the Lady Flames were just 2-of-14 from long range. The Eagles scored 16 points off Liberty's 19 turnovers while committing only five miscues of their own. Liberty enjoyed considerable advantages in both rebounds (49-30) and points in the paint (30-16). The game featured only 15 total free throw attempts, including eight for Liberty and seven for FGCU.
Turning Point
Baker's bank shot midway through the third quarter had the Lady Flames within five (35-30) at the tail end of a 10-2 run.
FGCU outscored the Lady Flames 20-8 over the next seven minutes, extending into the fourth quarter. Cecil and Bell each hit a pair of triples during the extended surge, including one by Bell which bolstered the Eagles' lead to 17 points (55-38) with less than eight minutes remaining in the contest.
Game Summary
First Quarter
• FGCU knocked down three triples and got six points from Bell, opening up a 16-10 lead after the first period.
Second Quarter
• Rettstatt scored the second quarter's first five points, cutting Liberty's deficit to 16-15 with 6:48 remaining until halftime.
• FGCU outscored the Lady Flames by a 14-3 count during the remainder of the stanza, building a 30-18 advantage at the intermission. Liberty suffered its lowest-scoring half of the season, while committing 14 first-half turnovers.
Third Quarter
• After a cold shooting first half, Liberty made 50 percent (8-of-16) of its field goals during a 16-point third quarter. However, FGCU made four three-pointers during the stanza and outscored the Lady Flames by a point, taking a 47-34 lead into the last 10 minutes.
Fourth Quarter
• FGCU's lead reached 20 points twice during the final period as four more triples helped close out the game and improve the Eagles' all-time record versus the Lady Flames to 7-0.
Notes and Nuggets
• One day after being held to a season-low three points, Baker posted her 14th double-digit scoring effort this season and the 50th of her career.
• Rettstatt's game-high nine rebounds give her 629 for her career, moving her past Sharon Wilkerson and into 12th place all-time for the Lady Flames.
• Liberty's two triples on Saturday give the Lady Flames 171 for the season. Liberty needs five more three-pointers to break the program single-season record of 175 set in 2013-14.
• The Lady Flames' 50 points were their fewest since Jan. 27, 2020, when they lost by the same 65-50 score at North Florida.
• Liberty has now lost 33 consecutive meetings with Top 25 foes.
Up Next
Liberty has earned the No. 2 seed, representing the Lady Flames' best seed during three all-time appearances in the ASUN Women's Basketball Championship. The Lady Flames' path toward a potential third consecutive title game appearance will begin with a Thursday quarterfinal clash with No. 7 seed Bellarmine (5-16, 5-11 ASUN). Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw, Ga.
The Lady Flames swept both regular-season meetings with the ASUN newcomer Knights in Louisville, Ky. Liberty prevailed 76-62 on Feb. 13 and 79-73 on Feb. 14.
The semifinals will take place on Friday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with the championship game slated for next Sunday (March 14) at 2 p.m. All three of those contests will take place at the KSU Convocation Center.
