Lady Flames Picked 2nd in CUSA; Boone, Hess & Smuda Named Preseason All-Conference
10/10/2024 12:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Led by a trio of preseason all-conference performers (Asia Boone, Emma Hess and Bella Smuda), the Liberty women's basketball team was tabbed for a second-place conference finish by the CUSA head coaches.
Liberty finished 18-16 (11-5 CUSA) in its inaugural season of CUSA competition in 2023-24, falling to Middle Tennessee in the championship game. Those same two teams top the 2024-25 preseason poll, with the Blue Raiders earning nine of 10 first-place votes and 99 points to claim the top spot. Liberty collected the other first-place nod and totaled 88 points in the voting for second place.
Liberty and Middle Tennessee boast six of the 10 preseason all-conference team members. However, third-place FIU (73 points) features the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, Mya Kone.
A 5-8 sophomore guard from San Diego, Calif., Boone enjoyed a superb freshman season. She was voted CUSA Freshman of the Year, while also earning second team All-CUSA and CUSA All-Tournament Team accolades. She averaged 10.1 ppg and knocked down 63 three-pointers at a 36.8 percent clip.
A 6-0 senior guard from Beavercreek, Ohio, Hess is part of the preseason all-conference squad for the second year in a row. She tallied 13.0 ppg last season, earning first team All-CUSA recognition. Hess shattered the Liberty single-season record with 76 three-pointers, shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc.
A 6-6 redshirt senior center from Exton, Pa., Smuda earns her second honor in as many days. She was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday. Smuda's 2023-24 campaign saw her collect first team All-CUSA, CUSA All-Defensive Team and CUSA All-Tournament Team awards. She led the Lady Flames in points (15.0 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg), blocked shots (2.3 bpg), field goal percentage (58.5) and double-doubles (18) a year ago.
Liberty will tip off its 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 at the Athletes in Action Total Athlete Tip-Off at the new John Wooden Family Fieldhouse in Xenia, Ohio. The Lady Flames will square off against Valparaiso in the day's first of three contests, set for a 1 p.m. start.
Three days later (Nov. 7), the Lady Flames will welcome Duke to Liberty Arena for their home opener with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
Liberty will play 18 CUSA contests this season, facing each of the other nine conference members (including newcomer Kennesaw State) twice apiece. The Lady Flames' conference slate begins Jan. 2 at Western Kentucky.
Liberty will then return to Huntsville, Ala., for the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship for the second year in a row, March 11-15. The event, which will be held in conjunction with the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, will take place at Propst Arena.
Ticket Information
Season tickets are available now starting at just $50 for the public! Liberty faculty and staff, recent graduates (2021-24), and Letterwinner's association members can receive a discount on season tickets by contacting the Flames Ticket Office at 434-592-5015.
Save up to 61% off single game ticket prices by purchasing season tickets. Club season tickets are also available to Flames Club members starting at the Talon ($75) level. For more information about season tickets or joining the Flames Club, contact the Flames Ticket Office by calling or texting 434-592-5015 or visit LUWBasketball.com.
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 season will go on sale on Oct. 24.
This will mark the Lady Flames' fifth season playing at Liberty Arena. Flames Nation has provided quite a home court advantage, as Liberty has posted a 52-8 all-time record at the venue.
2024-25 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) Middle Tennessee (9 first-place votes) – 99 total points
2) Liberty (1) – 88
3) FIU – 73
4) Western Kentucky – 61
5) Louisiana Tech – 59
6) New Mexico State – 55
7) UTEP – 43
8) Jacksonville State – 32
9) Kennesaw State – 22
10) Sam Houston – 18
CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Mya Kone, FIU
CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Tanajah Hayes, FIU
Mya Kone, FIU
Asia Boone, Liberty
Emma Hess, Liberty
Bella Smuda, Liberty
Anastasiia Boldyreva, Middle Tennessee
Jalynn Gregory, Middle Tennessee
Ta'Mia Scott, Middle Tennessee
Molly Kaiser, New Mexico State
Alexis Mead, Western Kentucky
Liberty finished 18-16 (11-5 CUSA) in its inaugural season of CUSA competition in 2023-24, falling to Middle Tennessee in the championship game. Those same two teams top the 2024-25 preseason poll, with the Blue Raiders earning nine of 10 first-place votes and 99 points to claim the top spot. Liberty collected the other first-place nod and totaled 88 points in the voting for second place.
Liberty and Middle Tennessee boast six of the 10 preseason all-conference team members. However, third-place FIU (73 points) features the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, Mya Kone.
A 5-8 sophomore guard from San Diego, Calif., Boone enjoyed a superb freshman season. She was voted CUSA Freshman of the Year, while also earning second team All-CUSA and CUSA All-Tournament Team accolades. She averaged 10.1 ppg and knocked down 63 three-pointers at a 36.8 percent clip.
A 6-0 senior guard from Beavercreek, Ohio, Hess is part of the preseason all-conference squad for the second year in a row. She tallied 13.0 ppg last season, earning first team All-CUSA recognition. Hess shattered the Liberty single-season record with 76 three-pointers, shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc.
A 6-6 redshirt senior center from Exton, Pa., Smuda earns her second honor in as many days. She was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday. Smuda's 2023-24 campaign saw her collect first team All-CUSA, CUSA All-Defensive Team and CUSA All-Tournament Team awards. She led the Lady Flames in points (15.0 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg), blocked shots (2.3 bpg), field goal percentage (58.5) and double-doubles (18) a year ago.
Liberty will tip off its 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 at the Athletes in Action Total Athlete Tip-Off at the new John Wooden Family Fieldhouse in Xenia, Ohio. The Lady Flames will square off against Valparaiso in the day's first of three contests, set for a 1 p.m. start.
Three days later (Nov. 7), the Lady Flames will welcome Duke to Liberty Arena for their home opener with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
Liberty will play 18 CUSA contests this season, facing each of the other nine conference members (including newcomer Kennesaw State) twice apiece. The Lady Flames' conference slate begins Jan. 2 at Western Kentucky.
Liberty will then return to Huntsville, Ala., for the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship for the second year in a row, March 11-15. The event, which will be held in conjunction with the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship, will take place at Propst Arena.
Ticket Information
Season tickets are available now starting at just $50 for the public! Liberty faculty and staff, recent graduates (2021-24), and Letterwinner's association members can receive a discount on season tickets by contacting the Flames Ticket Office at 434-592-5015.
Save up to 61% off single game ticket prices by purchasing season tickets. Club season tickets are also available to Flames Club members starting at the Talon ($75) level. For more information about season tickets or joining the Flames Club, contact the Flames Ticket Office by calling or texting 434-592-5015 or visit LUWBasketball.com.
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 season will go on sale on Oct. 24.
This will mark the Lady Flames' fifth season playing at Liberty Arena. Flames Nation has provided quite a home court advantage, as Liberty has posted a 52-8 all-time record at the venue.
2024-25 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) Middle Tennessee (9 first-place votes) – 99 total points
2) Liberty (1) – 88
3) FIU – 73
4) Western Kentucky – 61
5) Louisiana Tech – 59
6) New Mexico State – 55
7) UTEP – 43
8) Jacksonville State – 32
9) Kennesaw State – 22
10) Sam Houston – 18
CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Mya Kone, FIU
CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Tanajah Hayes, FIU
Mya Kone, FIU
Asia Boone, Liberty
Emma Hess, Liberty
Bella Smuda, Liberty
Anastasiia Boldyreva, Middle Tennessee
Jalynn Gregory, Middle Tennessee
Ta'Mia Scott, Middle Tennessee
Molly Kaiser, New Mexico State
Alexis Mead, Western Kentucky
Players Mentioned
Saturday, March 14
Friday, March 13
Thursday, March 12
Tuesday, March 10