WBB Game Day: Jacksonville
1/13/2023 11:38:22 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Day Links:
Live Video (ESPN+)
Live Audio (LFSN Radio)
Liberty Women’s Basketball Instagram
Liberty Women’s Basketball Twitter
Liberty Women’s Basketball Facebook
Jacksonville Women’s Basketball Webpage
ASUN Women’s Basketball Webpage
Game Time:
Saturday – 1 p.m.
TV Coverage:
ESPN+
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: TBD
Color Analyst:Â TBD
Radio Coverage:
Liberty Flames Sports Network – Radio
WQLU 90.9 FM The Light
Play-By-Play Broadcaster:Â Jamie Hall
Liberty’s Top Storylines
• Liberty (8-7, 2-2 ASUN) will wrap off its visit to the River City Saturday afternoon with its second matchup against Jacksonville (8-6, 2-2 ASUN) in seven days.
• The Lady Flames led from wire-to-wire during an 81-66 triumph over Jacksonville, Sunday at Liberty Arena. It marked Liberty's ninth consecutive win in the head-to-head series with the Dolphins.
• Something will have to give on Saturday, as Liberty is 3-0 all-time at Swisher Gymnasium while Jacksonville is 7-0 at home this season and has won eight straight home contests overall.
• Mya Berkman leads the Lady Flames in points (14.5 ppg) and rebounds (7.9 rpg) while ranking No. 1 nationally for field goal percentage (69.4). She scored a team-high 16 points during Sunday's win over Jacksonville, part of a current streak of six straight games in double figures.
• Berkman's backup at center, Bella Smuda has enjoyed success against Jacksonville during her career. She posted season highs for points (15), rebounds (8) and blocks (3) on Sunday. She also totaled 27 points and 20 rebounds in 39 minutes during two wins over Jacksonville as a freshman in 2020-21.
Notes and Anecdotes – Liberty vs. Jacksonville
• Liberty and Jacksonville will square off for the second time in seven days, after the Lady Flames raced out to a 25-4 first-quarter lead on the way to an 81-66 victory, Sunday at Liberty Arena.
• This is the second time Liberty and Jacksonville will face each other twice within the same week. The Lady Flames topped the Dolphins 78-46 and 78-52 on back-to-back days at Liberty Arena on Jan. 30 & 31, 2021.
• The Lady Flames have recorded nine consecutive victories over the Dolphins after Jacksonville spoiled Liberty's inaugural ASUN home game with a 64-52 decision, Jan. 12, 2019 at the Vines Center.
• Liberty is 3-0 all-time at Swisher Gymnasium. In order to keep that record unblemished, the Lady Flames will have to snap Jacksonville's eight-game home winning streak. The Dolphins have not lost at home since Feb. 24, 2022 vs. North Florida and are the only ASUN team with a perfect home record (7-0) this season.
• This is Carey Green's 24th season as a head coach. His first season in Lynchburg (1999-2000) was Jacksonville's first year fielding a women's basketball team.
• Liberty is hoping to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 while JU last appeared in 2016.
Getting it Done vs. the Dolphins
• Bella Smuda has posted some big games against Jacksonville during her career. Most recently, she posted season-highs for points (15), rebounds (8) and blocked shots (3) during Sunday's home win over the Dolphins. She totaled 27 points and 20 rebounds in 39 minutes played during two home victories against Jacksonville as a freshman (Jan. 30 & 31, 2021), including her first career double-double.
• Pien Steenbergen equaled her career high of 11 points against Jacksonville on Sunday, going 5-of-5 from the foul line.
• Dee Brown scored a career-high 17 points during her last visit to Swisher Gymnasium (Feb. 12, 2022).
On the Road in the ASUN
• Liberty is 56-22 against ASUN Conference opponents since joining the league prior to the 2018-19 season, including 22- 15 on the road.
• The Lady Flames are 21-13 in ASUN Conference games on the road (including 0-2 this season) and 1-2 in road contests in the ASUN Championship.
• Liberty is 6-13 when facing ASUN Conference opponents in Florida (including 0-2 season) and 50-9 when matching up with ASUN foes in any other state (including 2-0 this season). The Lady Flames are 3-0 at Swisher Gymnasium.
• The Lady Flames have lost three consecutive road games against ASUN foes and are seeking their first ASUN road triuimph since Feb. 26, 2022, when Liberty won 63-57 at Kennesaw State in the 2021-22 regular-season finale.
Featured in Main Photo: #25 Alise Markova
