Sunday, December 10
Raleigh, N.C.
2:00 PM ET
Liberty University
3-7,0-0CUSA
67
at
80
NC State
10-0,0-0ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
15
16
16
20
67
NC State
24
13
23
20
80
Elisabeth Aegisdottir
No. 3 NC State Survives Liberty, 80-67
12/10/2023 5:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Liberty challenged No. 3 NC State all Sunday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum before the Wolfpack held on for an 80-67 victory. Zoe Brooks posted a triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) for the victors, including five points during a 12-4 game-closing run.
Liberty falls to 3-7 with its third loss to a Top 25 opponent this season and its 41st straight setback when facing a nationally ranked foe. The Lady Flames were led by the trio of Asia Boone (17 points), Emma Hess (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Bella Smuda (14 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocked shots).
NC State remains unbeaten overall (10-0), at home (7-0) and all-time against the Lady Flames (4-0). Aziaha James (18 points) paced five Wolfpack players in double figures and hit four of her team's 11 three-pointers.
On a day featuring heavy rain and even a tornado warning in the Raleigh area, the game was delayed for approximately 25 minutes between the third and fourth quarters due to a leak in the Reynolds Coliseum roof.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 7 points; Jordan Hodges – 5 points, 7 assists.
Other NC State Individuals: Mimi Collins – 15 points, 10 rebounds; Madison Hayes – 15 points, 8 rebounds; Laci Steele – 10 points; River Baldwin – 8 points, 10 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field (38.5 percent for Liberty and 35.6 percent for NC State) but each squad set a new season high for three-pointers (9 for Liberty and 11 for NC State). Liberty hit all eight of its free throw attempts, but NC State got there 29 times, connecting on 17 for 58.6 percent. The Wolfpack shot 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) from the charity stripe during the fourth quarter alone. NC State scored 15 points off Liberty's 16 turnovers and finished with a 49-43 rebounding advantage (22 offensive caroms). The Lady Flames' reserves outscored NC State's bench, 16-10, and Liberty blocked eight shots.
Turning Point
Asia Boone converted Jordan Hodges' steal into a fast break hoop, cutting Liberty's deficit to five (68-63) with 3:41 to play. However, the Lady Flames shot just 1-for-4 and committed three turnovers the rest of the way.
NC State closed out its win with the aforementioned 12-4 surge, scoring its last 10 points at the free throw line. The Wolfpack grabbed three offensive boards during the final 31 seconds to keep Liberty at bay.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will face a pair of in-state opponents later this week, beginning with a Wednesday evening visit from longtime Big South Conference rival Radford (2-8). Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. for the front end of a women's/men's basketball doubleheader at Liberty Arena. The Liberty men's basketball squad will play host to Tennessee State following the Liberty-Radford clash.
Liberty falls to 3-7 with its third loss to a Top 25 opponent this season and its 41st straight setback when facing a nationally ranked foe. The Lady Flames were led by the trio of Asia Boone (17 points), Emma Hess (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Bella Smuda (14 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocked shots).
NC State remains unbeaten overall (10-0), at home (7-0) and all-time against the Lady Flames (4-0). Aziaha James (18 points) paced five Wolfpack players in double figures and hit four of her team's 11 three-pointers.
On a day featuring heavy rain and even a tornado warning in the Raleigh area, the game was delayed for approximately 25 minutes between the third and fourth quarters due to a leak in the Reynolds Coliseum roof.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 7 points; Jordan Hodges – 5 points, 7 assists.
Other NC State Individuals: Mimi Collins – 15 points, 10 rebounds; Madison Hayes – 15 points, 8 rebounds; Laci Steele – 10 points; River Baldwin – 8 points, 10 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field (38.5 percent for Liberty and 35.6 percent for NC State) but each squad set a new season high for three-pointers (9 for Liberty and 11 for NC State). Liberty hit all eight of its free throw attempts, but NC State got there 29 times, connecting on 17 for 58.6 percent. The Wolfpack shot 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) from the charity stripe during the fourth quarter alone. NC State scored 15 points off Liberty's 16 turnovers and finished with a 49-43 rebounding advantage (22 offensive caroms). The Lady Flames' reserves outscored NC State's bench, 16-10, and Liberty blocked eight shots.
Turning Point
Asia Boone converted Jordan Hodges' steal into a fast break hoop, cutting Liberty's deficit to five (68-63) with 3:41 to play. However, the Lady Flames shot just 1-for-4 and committed three turnovers the rest of the way.
NC State closed out its win with the aforementioned 12-4 surge, scoring its last 10 points at the free throw line. The Wolfpack grabbed three offensive boards during the final 31 seconds to keep Liberty at bay.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Three different NC State players hit triples during an early 13-0 run by the Wolfpack which turned out to put them in front for good.
- Asia Boone scored eight straight Liberty points to keep the Lady Flames within striking distance. Emma Hess then hit a shot from beyond halfcourt at the buzzer to end the period with NC State leading, 24-15.
Second QuarterFrom their mouth to our ears #Get2 pic.twitter.com/OwTce43crF
— Liberty Women's Basketball (@LibertyWBB) December 13, 2023
- River Baldwin's hoop 4:12 before halftime gave the Wolfpack their largest lead of the opening half at 34-20.
- Liberty responded with an 11-3 run, including eight points from freshmen. As a result, the Lady Flames were back within six (37-31) at the break.
- Liberty pulled within three points twice in the third quarter, including at 45-42 on Bella Smuda's turnaround jumper with 5:37 on the clock.
- NC State then outscored the Lady Flames 15-5 to close out the period, pushing its advantage back to 13 (60-47). Zoe Brooks scored five points during the home team's surge.
- Limited to five points during the first three periods, Hess emerged from the delay to score 10 within the first 5:33 of the fourth quarter.
- However, Liberty turned the ball over seven times during the final 10 minutes, slowing down its comeback effort.
- Boone scored in double figures for the third straight game, matching her career highs for points (17) and three-pointers (3).
- Hess pulled down a season-high six rebounds.
- Smuda recorded her second consecutive double-double, her fourth of the season and the sixth of her career.
- Smuda's 15 rebounds set a career high and her six blocked shots tied her career best from Monday's matchup with Towson.
- Hodges' seven assists established a career high, giving her 18 helpers in the last three games. The starting point guard did not turn the ball over in 25 minutes.
- NC State was the sixth 2023 NCAA Tournament qualifier Liberty has faced in 10 games to begin the season. The Lady Flames have yet to play a team with a losing record in 2023-24.
- Liberty is now 0-2 versus ACC opponents this season but has played well in both games. The Lady Flames led No. 15 Louisville by six heading to the fourth quarter on Nov. 25 in Katy, Texas before falling 72-63.
The Lady Flames will face a pair of in-state opponents later this week, beginning with a Wednesday evening visit from longtime Big South Conference rival Radford (2-8). Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. for the front end of a women's/men's basketball doubleheader at Liberty Arena. The Liberty men's basketball squad will play host to Tennessee State following the Liberty-Radford clash.
Team Stats
Lib
NCSU
FG%
.385
.351
3FG%
.333
.407
FT%
.889
.586
RB
44
51
TO
16
8
STL
3
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballC
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