Liberty University
22-7,16-2ASUN
Bellarmine
9-22,5-13ASUN
Liberty Hangs On for 69-68 OT Win at Bellarmine in Regular-Season Finale
3/1/2023 9:22:51 PM | Women's Basketball
Six days after posting a 27-point home win over Bellarmine, Liberty had to work much harder and longer to defeat the Knights during Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Freedom Hall. The Lady Flames posted a 69-68 overtime victory, their 14th win in a row, after surviving a potential game-winning layup attempt by Hayley Harrison at the buzzer.
Liberty heads to the ASUN Women’s Basketball Championship as the No. 2 seed with a 22-7 overall record and a 16-2 ASUN mark. Mya Berkman scored 12 of her team-high 13 points during the fourth quarter and overtime, including a hoop with 2:14 left in extra time which put the Lady Flames in front for good.
Bellarmine’s season ends at 9-22 overall and 5-13 in the ASUN despite exceptional efforts by the trio of Miyah Brown (18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Hayley Harrison (17 points, 4-7 3FG) and Gracie Merkle (10 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks). Harrison sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds to play in regulation but could not replicate her heroics as the final buzzer sounded in overtime.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Berkman – 13 points, 8 rebounds; Emma Hess – 12 points; Bella Smuda – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks.
Other Bellarmine Individuals: Sheniqua Coatney – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals; Claire Knies – 4 points, 4 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) to Bellarmine’s 36.5 percent (23-of-63). The Knights shot well from the foul line (18-of-21 for 85.7 percent), while the Lady Flames finished at 62.5 percent (10-of-16). Bellarmine dominated the boards (46-33), becoming the first ASUN this season to outrebound the Lady Flames. Liberty had the upper hand in points in the paint (40-32) and bench points (25-8).
Turning Point
Liberty scored four straight points (Mya Berkman layup and two Dee Brown free throws) to head to the final minute of overtime with a 69-65 lead.
Bellarmine then cut its deficit to one on a single possession with a Merkle layup and Harrison free throw.
After her team a defensive stop, the Knights’ Harrison drove down the left side of the lane but could not connect as the final buzzer sounded.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Liberty outscored Bellarmine 16-7 over the final 6:16 of the opening period to take a 20-13 lead. Twelve of those points came from reserves, including six by Bella Smuda.
- The host Knights turned it over six times during the first quarter.
Second Quarter
- Aided by five more Bellarmine turnovers, Liberty led by as many as a dozen (33-21) in the second period before taking a 33-23 halftime lead. The Lady Flames tallied 19 bench points to the Knights’ four before halftime.
Third Quarter
- Miyah Brown scored nine points during the third quarter, helping Bellarmine outscore Liberty, 21-9. As a result, the Knights took a 44-42 advantage into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
- Limited to one point during the first three quarters, Mya Berkman tallied eight during the final quarter. Liberty was on the verge of pulling out a victory in regulation before Harrison hit a corner triple with 0.8 seconds left to force overtime.
Overtime
- Both teams made three field goals in overtime, but Liberty hit both of its free throws while Bellarmine split its pair, allowing the Lady Flames to outscore the Knights, 8-7.
Notes and Nuggets
- Berkman has now scored in double figures in all six matchups with Bellarmine in her career. Wednesday marked her 150th career appearance in a Liberty uniform.
- Smuda’s three blocked shots put her into sole possession of seventh place on Liberty’s all-time list with 106 career rejections.
- Hess hit two triples, giving her 56 for the season. That is tied for fifth on Liberty’s all-time single-season list with Cynthia Thomson (1991-92) and Reagan Miller (2011-12).
- Liberty improves to 6-0 all-time against Bellarmine, including 4-0 at Freedom Hall.
- The Lady Flames are now 3-0 in overtime this season and have won seven straight overtime contests overall.
- Liberty is now 8-3 in games decided by 10 or fewer points this season.
Up Next
The Lady Flames will enter the 2023 ASUN Women’s Basketball Championship as the No. 2 seed. They will tip off tournament play with a quarterfinal contest on Sunday at Liberty Arena at a time to be determined. Liberty will face the winner of Saturday’s 4 p.m. first-round matchup between No. 7 seed Kennesaw State and No. 8 seed Jacksonville State at Liberty Arena.
Featured in Main Photo: #23 Emma Hess
