Liberty University
24-7,16-2ASUN
Lipscomb
20-12,13-5ASUN
19-0 Game-Opening Run Propels Liberty Past Lipscomb, Into ASUN Title Game
3/8/2023 10:31:07 PM | Women's Basketball
Head Coach Carey Green Postgame Presser
Mya Berkman and Kennedi Williams Postgame Presser
For the second game in a row, a fast start propelled No. 2 seed Liberty to a comfortable ASUN Women’s Basketball Championship victory, Wednesday at Liberty Arena. The Lady Flames opened the semifinal tilt with a 19-0 run, sending them on their way to an 84-56 win over No. 3 seed Lipscomb and a fourth ASUN title game appearance in five seasons.
Winners of 16 consecutive games, the Lady Flames (24-7) will travel to Fort Myers, Fla., for Saturday’s 7 p.m. ASUN championship contest at No. 1 seed FGCU (31-3). It will mark the fourth time in five years the two squads have reached the title game together, with the 2020 contest having been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kennedi Williams led all players with 20 points on Wednesday, knocking down a career-high four of Liberty’s 11 three-pointers. Her efforts helped Carey Green win his 547th career game, tying Paul Wetmore (softball, 1994-2013) as the winningest coach in Liberty Athletics history. Green will try to break the record on Saturday during his 20th conference tournament championship game appearance in 24 seasons at the helm.
Lipscomb’s year ends at 20-12, tying the Bisons’ program record for most wins in a season. They fell to 0-10 all-time against the Lady Flames after shooting 30.2 percent (16-of-53) from the field and committing 18 turnovers that led to 26 Liberty points.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Williams – 20 points, 4-6 3FG, 4 assists, 3 rebounds; Dee Brown – 15 points, 9 rebounds; Mya Berkman – 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals; Emma Hess – 9 points, 3-5 3FG, 6 rebounds; Bella Smuda – 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Lipscomb Individuals: Aleah Sorrentino – 14 points, 6-8 FT, 9 rebounds; Blythe Pearson – 13 points, 3-7 3FG; Bella Vinson – 10 points; Jalyn Holcomb – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 40.5 percent (30-of-74) from the field, including 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from beyond the arc, with its 11 triples matching a season high. The Lady Flames struggled at the foul line (13-of-22 for 59.1 percent), while the Bisons shot 76.2 percent (16-of-21). Liberty committed a season-low seven turnovers. The Lady Flames won the rebounding battle, 49-40, converting 21 offensive boards into 25 second-chance points. Liberty also enjoyed sizable advantages in points in the paint (32-12) and bench points (26-10).
Turning Point
Liberty knocked down four three-pointers before Lipscomb scored its first points of the night. Two of the triples came from Williams, including one that made it 19-0 Lady Flames just 6:10 into the contest.
Liberty’s advantage remained at 16 points or larger the rest of the way.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Liberty held Lipscomb scoreless for 6:34 to begin the game, posting the aforementioned 19-0 run during that drought.
- The visiting Bisons shot just 7.7 percent (1-of-13) from the field in the first quarter and committed four turnovers. The Lady Flames led 24-5 following the opening stanza.
Second Quarter
- The Bisons knocked down three triples during the second quarter, including a pair by Blythe Pearson. But the visitors could get no closer than 16 down.
- Williams tallied six of her 12 first-half points in the second period, helping Liberty take a 41-20 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
- Aleah Sorrentino tallied 10 third-quarter points for the Bisons. But the Lady Flames outscored Lipscomb, 17-16, for the period and held a 22-point advantage heading to the final 10 minutes.
Fourth Quarter
- Liberty saved its highest-scoring quarter (26 points) for last, and the Lady Flames’ 28-point margin of victory (84-56) marked their biggest lead of the night.
Notes and Nuggets
- Williams’ 20-point game was her third career outing with 20 or more tallies, all of which have come this season. Her four triples doubled her previous career high. The point guard had only made seven three-pointers all season prior to Wednesday.
- Williams’ team-high four assists give her 139 for the season. That is the most by a Lady Flame since 1997-98, when Sarah Wilkerson finished with 149.
- Brown’s 15 points moved her into Liberty’s all-time top 50 scoring list with 629 career markers. She also tied a season high with nine rebounds.
- Berkman scored in double figures (14 points) for the sixth straight game and the 70th time in her career. Her six boards made her the sixth Lady Flame ever to grab 900 career rebounds, and Berkman also came up with a career-high four steals.
- Hess hit three triples, giving her 10 in two wins over Lipscomb this season. Hess now ranks No. 4 in program history for most three-pointers in a season (59), just five behind the Liberty single-season record.
- Smuda just missed a double-double with nine points and a season-high nine rebounds.
- Liberty is averaging 88.3 ppg in its last three home games.
- The Lady Flames have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in five of their last six outings.
- Liberty has won 14 straight home games, improving to 42-3 all-time at Liberty Arena.
- The Lady Flames will be making their 23rd conference championship game appearance in 27 years on Saturday.
Featured in Main Photo: #1 Kennedi Williams
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