
Asia Boone (11 points) was one of six Lady Flames in double figures on Saturday.
Liberty Scorches Nets in 106-58 Win Over Christopher Newport
11/30/2024 7:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three days after being limited to a season-low 50 points in a loss at Grand Canyon, Liberty had already exceeded that number by halftime. The Lady Flames' 106-58 victory over Christopher Newport on Saturday afternoon set a new Liberty Arena women's basketball single-game scoring record.
Liberty (4-3) shattered the previous mark of 91 points set in a March 5, 2023 win over Kennesaw State. Six Lady Flames scored in double digits as Liberty shot 59.7 percent (46-of-77) and racked up 72 points in the point during its first 100-point outing since Dec. 16, 2017 (105-43 home win over Shippensburg).
Ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III, Christopher Newport remains at 7-0 on the season, as the Captains classified Saturday's contest as an exhibition. CNU scored 40 bench points and forced 20 Liberty turnovers but could not overcome 28.4 percent (21-of-74) field goal shooting.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Bella Smuda – 19 points, 9 rebounds; Emily Howard – 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6-6 FG; Brooke Moore – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks; Avery Mills – 13 points, 6 assists; Asia Boone – 11 points, 6 rebounds.
Christopher Newport Individuals: Mia Wilson – 10 points; Camille Malagar – 9 points, 4 rebounds; Sarah Pritz – 9 points, 3-6 3FG.
Key Team Stats: Both teams were active beyond the arc, with Liberty shooting 10-of-28 for 35.7 percent and Christopher Newport was 8-of-25 for 32 percent. The Lady Flames dominated the rebounding (56-32), fast break points (29-1) and bench points (56-40) categories. Liberty dished out 31 assists, its most in a game since Nov. 30, 2007 (33 vs. Virginia Union) and blocked 10 shots, its most in a contest since Jan. 21, 2017 (10 at UNC Asheville).
Turning Point
Christopher Newport got off to a strong start, and McKenna Snively's hoop at the 6:27 mark put the visitors in front, 9-6.
Smuda scored on Liberty's next two possessions, kick-starting a 21-6 Lady Flames surge over the remainder of the quarter. The center notched 10 of those points, helping Liberty take a 27-15 advantage.
The Lady Flames' lead never dipped back into single digits the rest of the way.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will continue their homestand on Dec. 7, welcoming preseason CAA favorite North Carolina A&T (2-4) to Liberty Arena for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The contest will air on ESPN+.
Liberty (4-3) shattered the previous mark of 91 points set in a March 5, 2023 win over Kennesaw State. Six Lady Flames scored in double digits as Liberty shot 59.7 percent (46-of-77) and racked up 72 points in the point during its first 100-point outing since Dec. 16, 2017 (105-43 home win over Shippensburg).
Ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III, Christopher Newport remains at 7-0 on the season, as the Captains classified Saturday's contest as an exhibition. CNU scored 40 bench points and forced 20 Liberty turnovers but could not overcome 28.4 percent (21-of-74) field goal shooting.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Bella Smuda – 19 points, 9 rebounds; Emily Howard – 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6-6 FG; Brooke Moore – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks; Avery Mills – 13 points, 6 assists; Asia Boone – 11 points, 6 rebounds.
Christopher Newport Individuals: Mia Wilson – 10 points; Camille Malagar – 9 points, 4 rebounds; Sarah Pritz – 9 points, 3-6 3FG.
Key Team Stats: Both teams were active beyond the arc, with Liberty shooting 10-of-28 for 35.7 percent and Christopher Newport was 8-of-25 for 32 percent. The Lady Flames dominated the rebounding (56-32), fast break points (29-1) and bench points (56-40) categories. Liberty dished out 31 assists, its most in a game since Nov. 30, 2007 (33 vs. Virginia Union) and blocked 10 shots, its most in a contest since Jan. 21, 2017 (10 at UNC Asheville).
Turning Point
Christopher Newport got off to a strong start, and McKenna Snively's hoop at the 6:27 mark put the visitors in front, 9-6.
Smuda scored on Liberty's next two possessions, kick-starting a 21-6 Lady Flames surge over the remainder of the quarter. The center notched 10 of those points, helping Liberty take a 27-15 advantage.
The Lady Flames' lead never dipped back into single digits the rest of the way.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Liberty used its size advantage to great effect during the first 10 minutes, led by the starting post duo of Smuda (12 points) and Aegisdottir (8).
- The Lady Flames tallied 24 points in the paint and outrebounded the Captains 19-7 during the opening stanza, which ended with Liberty on top, 27-15.
- Liberty scorched the nets for 32 points in the second quarter, falling one point shy of the program record for a single period. The Lady Flames shot 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the field and 60 percent (6-of-10) from three-point range during the quarter, building a 59-25 halftime advantage.
- Howard scored seven points during a 13-0 third-quarter run which gave Liberty its largest lead to that point, 83-38. The Lady Flames took an 83-41 lead to the final period.
- Reserves scored 17 of Liberty's 23 fourth-quarter points, led by Mills' seven tallies. The Lady Flames shot 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the field, enabling them to reach the century mark for the first time in seven years.
- Six Lady Flames scored in double digits during the same game for the first time since Feb. 27, 2010 at UNC Asheville. That day, it was Tolu Omotola (22), Jelena Antic (13), Kylee Beecher (12), Devon Brown (12), LaKendra Washington (12) and Danika Dale (10) who did so.
- Smuda's game-high 19 points, which came in only 19 minutes, enabled her to leapfrog former teammate Bridgette Rettstatt for 10th place on Liberty's career scoring list. Smuda finished the contest with 1,243 career points.
- Fellow post players Howard (17 points) and Aegisdottir (13) set career highs in the scoring column, while Moore (13) tied her career high.
- All 12 Lady Flames in uniform scored points and grabbed at least one rebound.
- Liberty's 106 points were its most since Dec. 10, 2011 (116-65 home win over Glenville State).
- Saturday marked the first Liberty-Christopher Newport clash since the championship game of the LBC Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 19, 1983. Liberty won that contest, 55-44, and leads the all-time series, 4-1.
- The Lady Flames are 8-2 when facing fellow Virginia squads inside Liberty Arena and 54-9 overall at the facility (2-1 this season).
The Lady Flames will continue their homestand on Dec. 7, welcoming preseason CAA favorite North Carolina A&T (2-4) to Liberty Arena for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The contest will air on ESPN+.
Team Stats
CNU
Lib
FG%
.284
.597
3FG%
.320
.357
FT%
.500
.800
RB
32
56
TO
16
20
STL
12
10
Game Leaders
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