Saturday, November 25
Katy, Texas
12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT
Liberty University
2-4,0-0CUSA
63
vs
72
Louisville
5-1,0-0ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
17
15
20
11
63
Louisville
10
22
14
26
72
Jordan Hodges scored a career-high 13 points vs. No. 15 Louisville on Saturday.
Big 4th Quarter Helps No. 15 Louisville Survive Liberty’s Upset Bid
11/25/2023 3:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KATY, Texas – Trailing Liberty 52-46 entering the fourth quarter of Saturday's Betty Chancellor Classic matchup, No. 15 Louisville outscored the Lady Flames 26-11 during the final period. As a result, the Cardinals pulled out a hard-fought 72-63 victory inside the Merrell Center.
Liberty is now 2-4 after suffering its fourth straight loss and second in as many days in Texas. The Lady Flames led the nationally-ranked Cardinals by as many as 10 points, but 21 turnovers led to 19 Louisville points. Liberty has lost 40 straight meetings with Top 25 opponents, including a pair this season.
Louisville improves to 5-1, bouncing back from a loss to Alabama on Friday. Olivia Cochran (21 points) and Kiki Jefferson (20 points) led the way, scoring 14 of the Cardinals' 26 fourth-quarter points. Louisville is now 3-0 all-time versus the Lady Flames.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Bella Smuda – 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6-6 FG; Emma Hess – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4-7 3FG; Jordan Hodges – 13 points, 6 assists, 2-2 3FG; Asia Boone – 7 points, 6 assists.
Louisville Individuals: Cochran – 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals; Jefferson – 20 points, 3 steals, 8-8 FT; Nina Rickards – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists; Sydney Taylor – 8 points, 4 assists.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 47.8 percent (22-of-46) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range. However, the Lady Flames went just 3-of-13 for 23.1 percent during the final period, missing six of their seven three-point tries. Louisville finished the day at 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the floor and 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from beyond the arc. The Cardinals excelled at the free throw line, ending up at 25-of-31 for 80.6 percent to Liberty's 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent. Louisville won the rebounding battle, 34-24, scoring 17 second-chance points off 16 offensive boards.
Turning Point
Louisville used stout defense to overcome its 52-46 deficit entering the fourth quarter. The Cardinals held the Lady Flames without a made field goal for 7:05 to start the period, outscoring them 16-1 during that time.
Cochran and Jefferson combined for 10 points during the decisive surge, which put Louisville in front by nine (62-53) with just three minutes remaining.
Liberty could not get any closer than five points down the rest of the afternoon.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will close out their stay at the Betty Chancellor Classic with a Sunday matinee against Alabama. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. inside the Merrell Center for Liberty's first of two SEC matchups this season.
Liberty is now 2-4 after suffering its fourth straight loss and second in as many days in Texas. The Lady Flames led the nationally-ranked Cardinals by as many as 10 points, but 21 turnovers led to 19 Louisville points. Liberty has lost 40 straight meetings with Top 25 opponents, including a pair this season.
Louisville improves to 5-1, bouncing back from a loss to Alabama on Friday. Olivia Cochran (21 points) and Kiki Jefferson (20 points) led the way, scoring 14 of the Cardinals' 26 fourth-quarter points. Louisville is now 3-0 all-time versus the Lady Flames.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Bella Smuda – 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6-6 FG; Emma Hess – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4-7 3FG; Jordan Hodges – 13 points, 6 assists, 2-2 3FG; Asia Boone – 7 points, 6 assists.
Louisville Individuals: Cochran – 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals; Jefferson – 20 points, 3 steals, 8-8 FT; Nina Rickards – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists; Sydney Taylor – 8 points, 4 assists.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 47.8 percent (22-of-46) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range. However, the Lady Flames went just 3-of-13 for 23.1 percent during the final period, missing six of their seven three-point tries. Louisville finished the day at 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the floor and 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from beyond the arc. The Cardinals excelled at the free throw line, ending up at 25-of-31 for 80.6 percent to Liberty's 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent. Louisville won the rebounding battle, 34-24, scoring 17 second-chance points off 16 offensive boards.
Turning Point
Louisville used stout defense to overcome its 52-46 deficit entering the fourth quarter. The Cardinals held the Lady Flames without a made field goal for 7:05 to start the period, outscoring them 16-1 during that time.
Cochran and Jefferson combined for 10 points during the decisive surge, which put Louisville in front by nine (62-53) with just three minutes remaining.
Liberty could not get any closer than five points down the rest of the afternoon.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Liberty led 17-10 after shooting 60 percent (6-of-10) and knocking down three triples during the first quarter. The Lady Flames closed the stanza on a 15-3 run after trailing 7-2 early on.
- Meanwhile, Louisville made only 22.2 percent (4-of-18) of its first-quarter field goal attempts.
- Back-to-back Jordan Hodges three-pointers helped the Lady Flames open up their largest lead of the first half, 27-17, midway through the second period.
- Meanwhile, Louisville made only 22.2 percent (4-of-18) of its first-quarter field goal attempts.
- Louisville led 36-32 early in the third after four straight points by Olivia Cochran.
- Liberty then controlled the remainder of the session, shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) and building a 52-46 advantage through three periods. Bella Smuda had six points and four boards during the quarter for the Lady Flames.
- After struggling offensively for much of the day, Louisville racked up 26 fourth-quarter points on 50 percent (7-of-14) from the field and 92.3 percent (12-of-13) at the foul line.
- The Cardinals scored 10 points off Liberty's six turnovers during the final 10 minutes of play.
- Smuda set season highs for points (17) and blocked shots (3), while also grabbing a team-high nine boards.
- Hess's four three-pointers give the junior 107 for her career, moving her into ninth place in program history.
- Hodges scored a career-high 13 points and matched her career best with six assists.
- Boone's six assists doubled her previous career high.
- The Lady Flames' eight three-pointers were their most in a game this season.
- Liberty's four-game losing streak is its longest since the Lady Flames dropped five in a row between Nov. 8-24, 2019.
- Saturday's contest was the first Liberty-Louisville matchup since the Cardinals defeated the Lady Flames in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Flames will close out their stay at the Betty Chancellor Classic with a Sunday matinee against Alabama. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. inside the Merrell Center for Liberty's first of two SEC matchups this season.
Team Stats
Lib
LOU
FG%
.478
.339
3FG%
.471
.333
FT%
.786
.806
RB
24
34
TO
21
12
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballLiberty Introduces Alexis Sherard As The New Head Coach Of Women's Basketball
Tuesday, September 02
Remembering the Legendary Career of Carey Green
Friday, August 29
Ashley (Rininger) Schut: Faithful Through it All
Thursday, April 03
Coach Green, Emmy Stout & Bella Smuda Talk About The Game Against Kentucky
Friday, March 21