Friday, December 1
Lynchburg, Va.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
3-5,0-0CUSA
67
vs
53
James Madison
5-3,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
James Madison
14
12
14
13
53
Liberty
15
15
18
19
67
Bella Smuda tied career highs for points (18) and blocked shots (4) on Friday.
Liberty Shakes Off Slow Start to Top JMU, 67-53
12/1/2023 3:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – After falling behind James Madison 14-4 to start off Friday afternoon's contest at Liberty Arena, the host Lady Flames roared back. Liberty halted a five-game losing streak with a gritty 67-53 victory, getting 53 points from the trio of Emma Hess, Bella Smuda and Asia Boone.
Playing at home for the first time since the Nov. 6 season opener versus Frostburg State, Liberty improves to 3-5. The Lady Flames moved to 4-14 all-time against the Dukes, including 2-0 at Liberty Arena. Friday's contest marked Liberty's 16th straight home win, establishing a program record for longest winning streak at Liberty Arena.
James Madison falls to 5-3 on the season. The defending Sun Belt Conference champions were held well below their season scoring average (75.7 ppg), shooting just 31.9 percent (22-of-69) from the field and committing 16 turnovers.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Emma Hess – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3-8 3FG; Bella Smuda – 18 points, 4 blocks, 8-12 FG; Asia Boone – 17 points, 5 assists, 3-7 3FG; Jordan Hodges – 7 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists.
James Madison Individuals: Ashanti Barnes – 12 points, 6 rebounds; Kseniia Kozlova – 8 points, 5 rebounds; Peyton McDaniel – 6 points, 7 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from three-point range and a season-high 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the foul line. The Lady Flames lost the rebounding battle for the fourth game in a row (51-31), but JMU scored zero second-chance points off its 22 offensive caroms. Liberty dished out 17 assists and committed a season-low seven turnovers. The Lady Flames blocked a season-best nine shots and tallied 18 points off JMU's miscues. The Dukes had the upper hand in bench points, 27-5.
Turning Point
Trailing 14-4 six minutes into the matinee, Liberty proceeded to outscore the visiting Dukes 20-3 over the next nine minutes of play to take the lead for good.
Hess scored eight points and Boone added six more during the extended surge which ended with the Lady Flames now in front 24-17 midway through the second period. JMU missed 17 consecutive field goal attempts during its drought.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will remain at home on Monday, welcoming CAA preseason favorite Towson (4-1) to Lynchburg for the first time since 1995. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
Playing at home for the first time since the Nov. 6 season opener versus Frostburg State, Liberty improves to 3-5. The Lady Flames moved to 4-14 all-time against the Dukes, including 2-0 at Liberty Arena. Friday's contest marked Liberty's 16th straight home win, establishing a program record for longest winning streak at Liberty Arena.
James Madison falls to 5-3 on the season. The defending Sun Belt Conference champions were held well below their season scoring average (75.7 ppg), shooting just 31.9 percent (22-of-69) from the field and committing 16 turnovers.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Emma Hess – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3-8 3FG; Bella Smuda – 18 points, 4 blocks, 8-12 FG; Asia Boone – 17 points, 5 assists, 3-7 3FG; Jordan Hodges – 7 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists.
James Madison Individuals: Ashanti Barnes – 12 points, 6 rebounds; Kseniia Kozlova – 8 points, 5 rebounds; Peyton McDaniel – 6 points, 7 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from three-point range and a season-high 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the foul line. The Lady Flames lost the rebounding battle for the fourth game in a row (51-31), but JMU scored zero second-chance points off its 22 offensive caroms. Liberty dished out 17 assists and committed a season-low seven turnovers. The Lady Flames blocked a season-best nine shots and tallied 18 points off JMU's miscues. The Dukes had the upper hand in bench points, 27-5.
Turning Point
Trailing 14-4 six minutes into the matinee, Liberty proceeded to outscore the visiting Dukes 20-3 over the next nine minutes of play to take the lead for good.
Hess scored eight points and Boone added six more during the extended surge which ended with the Lady Flames now in front 24-17 midway through the second period. JMU missed 17 consecutive field goal attempts during its drought.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- After JMU raced out to a 14-4 lead to open the game, Liberty closed the first period with an 11-0 run to take a 15-14 advantage.
- The Dukes outrebounded the Lady Flames by a 20-4 count during the first 10 minutes of play but misfired on their last 11 field goal attempts.
- Liberty tallied nine of the second quarter's first 12 points, extending its overall run to the aforementioned 20-3. Brooke Moore's layup 5:09 before halftime put the Lady Flames in front, 24-17.
- The Lady Flames remained on top for the remainder of the session, taking a 30-26 halftime lead. Emma Hess led all players with 11 first-half points.
- Liberty's cushion reached double digits twice (42-32 and 44-34) during the third quarter. The Lady Flames owned a 48-40 edge at the conclusion of the period after holding JMU to 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from the field with four turnovers for the stanza.
- Peyton McDaniel opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a jumper that pulled JMU within six (48-42). But Liberty responded with a 7-0 burst to end the Dukes' hopes of a comeback.
- Smuda scored 10 points during the final period to help Liberty close out the victory.
- Smuda tied her career highs for points (18) and blocked shots (4). She scored 14 points after halftime.
- Hess, who played all but 24 seconds of Friday's game, has now scored 39 points and hit eight triples in two home contests this season.
- Boone set new career highs for points (17) and three-pointers made (3).
- Hodges grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and matched her career high of six assists.
- Making her first career start, freshman Elisabeth Aegisdottir pulled down six rebounds.
- Carey Green recorded career win No. 550 on Friday.
- Liberty is now 22-2 in its last 24 December contests, dating back to the 2018-19 season.
- The Lady Flames improved to 44-3 all-time at Liberty Arena.
- Liberty has now won eight of its last 10 meetings with in-state opponents.
The Lady Flames will remain at home on Monday, welcoming CAA preseason favorite Towson (4-1) to Lynchburg for the first time since 1995. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
Team Stats
JMU
Lib
FG%
.319
.424
3FG%
.250
.304
FT%
.750
.909
RB
51
31
TO
16
7
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballC
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