Sunday, November 26
Katy, Texas
11:30 AM ET/10:30 AM CT
Liberty University
2-5,0-0CUSA
47
vs
72
Alabama
7-1,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
8
14
9
16
47
Alabama
24
19
19
10
72
Elisabeth Aegisdottir
Liberty Falls to Alabama, 72-47
11/26/2023 2:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KATY, Texas – Alabama led from start to finish in a 72-47 victory over Liberty on Sunday, the third and final day of the Betty Chancellor Classic at the Merrell Center.
Liberty is now 2-5 on the season after suffering its fifth consecutive loss and its third in as many days. The Lady Flames matched their season-low scoring output despite Jordan Bailey leading all players in points (14) and rebounds (8). Fellow post player Bella Smuda was named to the all-tournament team following the contest.
Alabama, which won two of its three games in Texas, boosts its record to 7-1. The Crimson Tide, who are now 2-0 all-time against the Lady Flames, put five players into double figures in the scoring column.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Brooke Moore – 8 points; Bella Smuda – 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Alabama Individuals: Karly Weathers – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3-4 3FG; Aaliyah Nye – 12 points; Essence Cody – 10 points, 7 rebounds; Loyal McQueen – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; Jessica Timmons – 10 points, 5 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Alabama scored 32 points in the paint, contributing to its 43.5 percent (27-of-62) field goal efficiency. The Crimson Tide also knocked down seven three-pointers and shot 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the free throw line. Liberty shot just 34 percent (18-of-53) from the floor, 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from three-point range and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line. Alabama scored 22 points off Liberty's 19 turnovers. Uncharacteristically, the Lady Flames were outrebounded for the third game in a row (40-31), and the Crimson Tide scored 16 second-chance points off 11 offensive boards.
Turning Point
Eight different Alabama players scored during the first quarter, helping the Crimson Tide race out to a 24-8 lead and take control early on.
Defensively, the Crimson Tide limited the Lady Flames to 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from the field during the opening 10 minutes.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will return to Lynchburg for their first home game since the season's opening night. Liberty will welcome Commonwealth rival James Madison (5-2) to Liberty Arena on Friday for a Noon tipoff.
Liberty is now 2-5 on the season after suffering its fifth consecutive loss and its third in as many days. The Lady Flames matched their season-low scoring output despite Jordan Bailey leading all players in points (14) and rebounds (8). Fellow post player Bella Smuda was named to the all-tournament team following the contest.
Alabama, which won two of its three games in Texas, boosts its record to 7-1. The Crimson Tide, who are now 2-0 all-time against the Lady Flames, put five players into double figures in the scoring column.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Brooke Moore – 8 points; Bella Smuda – 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Alabama Individuals: Karly Weathers – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3-4 3FG; Aaliyah Nye – 12 points; Essence Cody – 10 points, 7 rebounds; Loyal McQueen – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; Jessica Timmons – 10 points, 5 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Alabama scored 32 points in the paint, contributing to its 43.5 percent (27-of-62) field goal efficiency. The Crimson Tide also knocked down seven three-pointers and shot 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the free throw line. Liberty shot just 34 percent (18-of-53) from the floor, 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from three-point range and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line. Alabama scored 22 points off Liberty's 19 turnovers. Uncharacteristically, the Lady Flames were outrebounded for the third game in a row (40-31), and the Crimson Tide scored 16 second-chance points off 11 offensive boards.
Turning Point
Eight different Alabama players scored during the first quarter, helping the Crimson Tide race out to a 24-8 lead and take control early on.
Defensively, the Crimson Tide limited the Lady Flames to 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from the field during the opening 10 minutes.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Alabama closed out the opening period with a 13-2 run, building the aforementioned 24-8 advantage through 10 minutes of play.
- The Crimson Tide shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the field, hit three triples and forced seven Liberty turnovers during the stanza.
- Aided by Aaliyah Nye's eight points, Alabama led by as many as 23 during the second quarter before taking a 43-22 halftime lead.
- Despite a strong first half by Bella Smuda (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), the Crimson Tide controlled the rebounding (22-13) and points in the paint (18-10) categories.
- Jordan Bailey tallied eight third-quarter points for the Lady Flames, but her teammates totaled only one more. Alabama added 10 points to its advantage by outscoring Liberty 19-9 for the stanza, and the Crimson Tide took a 62-31 lead to the final period.
- The Lady Flames outscored Alabama 16-10 in the fourth period, bolstered by 11 bench points.
- Bailey scored 12 of her 14 points after halftime and equaled her career high with eight rebounds.
- Sunday marked the 100th game of Smuda's collegiate career, as she has not missed a contest during her four seasons at Liberty. The center blocked multiple shots for the fifth consecutive outing.
- Moore's eight points off the bench were her most since a 13-point outing during the season-opening win over Frostburg State on Nov. 6.
- Liberty's five-game losing streak is its longest since the Lady Flames dropped five in a row between Nov. 8-24, 2019.
- Prior to Sunday, the Lady Flames' only previous meeting with Alabama was a 67-64 setback on Dec. 7, 2002 in a tournament hosted by East Carolina.
- Liberty falls to 1-21 all-time against SEC opponents with its 20th straight loss to an SEC foe.
The Lady Flames will return to Lynchburg for their first home game since the season's opening night. Liberty will welcome Commonwealth rival James Madison (5-2) to Liberty Arena on Friday for a Noon tipoff.
Team Stats
Lib
Bama
FG%
.340
.435
3FG%
.188
.280
FT%
.667
.846
RB
31
40
TO
20
13
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
3
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ 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