Wednesday, December 18
Cherokee, N.C.
9:30 PM ET
Liberty University
7-3,0-0CUSA
75
vs
61
Arkansas
6-7,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Arkansas
10
23
18
10
61
Liberty
27
12
15
21
75
Pien Steenbergen contributed 8 points to Liberty's victory over Arkansas.
Fast Start, Strong Finish Propel Liberty Past Arkansas, 75-61
12/19/2024 1:04:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHEROKEE, N.C. – Liberty jumped out to an early 19-point lead during Wednesday night's matchup with Arkansas at the Cherokee Invitational. However, the Lady Flames needed a strong fourth quarter (21-10 advantage) to close out the Razorbacks, 75-61, and advance to Thursday's championship game at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Event Center.
Liberty improves to 7-3 with its fourth straight victory overall and its first win over an SEC opponent since Dec. 12, 1998 vs. Kentucky. The Lady Flames will meet Toledo (6-2) on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. with the Cherokee Invitational title on the line, thanks in large part to the inside-outside duo of Jordan Hodges (18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Bella Smuda (16 points, 8 rebounds).
Aided by 24 points from the nation's fourth-leading scorer (Izzy Higginbottom), Arkansas (6-7) rallied to take a pair of one-point leads in the second half. But the Razorbacks shot just 25 percent (3-of-12) during the fourth quarter and were held without a made field goal for the final 4:53. Arkansas will face Troy during Thursday's consolation game, as the Trojans fell to Toledo by a 70-62 count in Wednesday's opener.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Asia Boone – 12 points, 4 rebounds; Emma Hess – 9 points, 3 assists, 6-7 FT; Pien Steenbergen – 8 points.
Other Arkansas Individuals: Carly Keats – 11 points; Danika Galea – 8 points, 4 rebounds; Phoenix Stotjin – 7 points.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the field. One game after making a program-record 15 triples against Randolph, the Lady Flames attempted only 15 shots behind the arc. They made four for 26.7 percent. Liberty made 83.3 percent (15-of-18) of its free throws, including 13-of-14 after halftime. Arkansas finished at 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor, 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from three-point range and 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the line. Liberty controlled the paint to the tune of a 40-30 rebounding advantage and edges in points in the paint (38-22) and second-chance points (11-4). The Lady Flames' 13 turnovers were their fewest against a Division I foe this season. Arkansas had the upper hand in fast break points (9-4) and bench points (21-14).
Turning Point
Higginbottom scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, including a fast break layup off a steal which put Arkansas on top, 55-54.
Hodges countered with a corner triple on Liberty's next possession, putting the Lady Flames back in front for good with 8:20 to play.
Hodges' hoop started a 9-0 Lady Flames run, and the Razorbacks got no closer than six points down the rest of the night.
Game Summary
First Quarter
Liberty improves to 7-3 with its fourth straight victory overall and its first win over an SEC opponent since Dec. 12, 1998 vs. Kentucky. The Lady Flames will meet Toledo (6-2) on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. with the Cherokee Invitational title on the line, thanks in large part to the inside-outside duo of Jordan Hodges (18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Bella Smuda (16 points, 8 rebounds).
Aided by 24 points from the nation's fourth-leading scorer (Izzy Higginbottom), Arkansas (6-7) rallied to take a pair of one-point leads in the second half. But the Razorbacks shot just 25 percent (3-of-12) during the fourth quarter and were held without a made field goal for the final 4:53. Arkansas will face Troy during Thursday's consolation game, as the Trojans fell to Toledo by a 70-62 count in Wednesday's opener.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Asia Boone – 12 points, 4 rebounds; Emma Hess – 9 points, 3 assists, 6-7 FT; Pien Steenbergen – 8 points.
Other Arkansas Individuals: Carly Keats – 11 points; Danika Galea – 8 points, 4 rebounds; Phoenix Stotjin – 7 points.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the field. One game after making a program-record 15 triples against Randolph, the Lady Flames attempted only 15 shots behind the arc. They made four for 26.7 percent. Liberty made 83.3 percent (15-of-18) of its free throws, including 13-of-14 after halftime. Arkansas finished at 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor, 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from three-point range and 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the line. Liberty controlled the paint to the tune of a 40-30 rebounding advantage and edges in points in the paint (38-22) and second-chance points (11-4). The Lady Flames' 13 turnovers were their fewest against a Division I foe this season. Arkansas had the upper hand in fast break points (9-4) and bench points (21-14).
Turning Point
Higginbottom scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, including a fast break layup off a steal which put Arkansas on top, 55-54.
Hodges countered with a corner triple on Liberty's next possession, putting the Lady Flames back in front for good with 8:20 to play.
Hodges' hoop started a 9-0 Lady Flames run, and the Razorbacks got no closer than six points down the rest of the night.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Liberty dominated the opening 10 minutes of play, getting three or more points from each of its five starters on its way to a 27-10 advantage.
- Steenbergen's layup opened the second quarter scoring, boosting the Lady Flames to their largest lead of the contest at 29-10.
- Arkansas outscored Liberty, 23-10, over the remainder of the stanza with Higginbottom contributing 11 of the points. Her team was back within six (39-33) at the intermission.
- Stotjin's three-pointer with 4:37 showing on the third quarter clock punctuated an 8-0 Arkansas run, giving the Razorbacks their first lead at 44-43.
- But Liberty bounced back with six straight points of its own and ended up taking a 54-51 lead into the final 10 minutes.
- Liberty more than doubled up Arkansas on the scoreboard during the final period, 21-10, with seniors Hodges, Smuda and Hess combining for 17 of the points.
- The Lady Flames knocked down 10-of-11 free throws to wrap up the victory.
- Hodges matched her season high of 18 points, grabbed a season-high seven boards and equaled her career high of three steals.
- Smuda (16 points) scored in double figures for the seventh time this season, while Boone (12) reached double digits for the sixth.
- Facing Arkansas for the first time in program history, Liberty improved to 2-23 all-time against SEC opponents. The Lady Flames had lost 22 straight SEC matchups prior to Wednesday, including all 21 with Carey Green as head coach.
- This marked just the second CUSA victory over a power conference opponent this season (also Middle Tennessee vs. Purdue on Nov. 28).
Team Stats
AR
Lib
FG%
.400
.431
3FG%
.269
.267
FT%
.909
.833
RB
30
40
TO
14
13
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
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