Saturday, February 10
Ruston, La.
3:00 PM ET/2:00 PM CT
Liberty University
11-14,6-4CUSA
58
at
53
Louisiana Tech
8-16,2-7CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
9
20
9
20
58
Louisiana Tech
12
11
14
16
53
Bella Smuda made this shot to become the 21st 1,000-point scorer in program history.
Liberty Pulls Out 58-53 Win at LA Tech as Smuda Reaches 1,000
2/10/2024 7:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RUSTON, La. – Liberty's Emma Hess went wild (29 points, 6 three-pointers) and Bella Smuda scored her 1,000th career point as part of a double-double. But it took a late 6-0 run keyed by a Jordan Hodges triple for the Lady Flames to come away from Louisiana Tech with a 58-53 victory, Saturday afternoon at Thomas Assembly Center.
Liberty moves to 11-14 overall and 6-4 in CUSA play after completing a season sweep of the Lady Techsters. In a game which featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes, the Lady Flames won despite shooting just 30 percent (18-of-60) from the field.
Louisiana Tech drops its fifth straight contest, dropping to 8-16 overall and 2-7 in conference action. All seven of the Lady Techsters' CUSA losses have come by eight points or fewer.
Smuda became the 21st member of Liberty's 1,000-point club with a spinning hoop from inside the paint with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Hess – 29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 6-10 3FG; Hodges – 13 points, 4 assists; Smuda – 11 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 11 rebounds.
LA Tech Individuals: Salma Bates – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Robyn Lee – 10 points, 6 rebounds; Anna Larr Roberson – 9 points, 4 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Almost half of Liberty's made field goals (8-of-18) on the day came from three-point range, where the Lady Flames shot 33.3 percent (8-of-24). Free throw shooting was key. Both teams attempted 17 foul shots, but Liberty made four more than the Lady Techsters (14-10). Louisiana Tech struggled offensively as well, making 33.9 percent (19-of-56) of its field goal attempts. The game featured only 11 total turnovers (5 by LA Tech and a season-low 6 for Liberty). Liberty outrebounded its hosts, 44-39, turning 14 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points. The Lady Techsters won the battle of bench points, 19-4.
Turning Point
Hess turned an offensive board into a three-point play with 2:03 left, giving Liberty a 50-48 advantage. Anja Bukvic then swished a corner triple 20 seconds later, putting LA Tech back in front by a single point (51-50).
On Liberty's ensuing possession, Aegisdottir tracked down an offensive board and found an open Hodges on the left wing. The point guard's three-pointer at the 1:13 mark gave Liberty a lead it did not relinquish (53-51).
The Lady Flames' defense produced back-to-back stops, and Hodges and Hess combined to make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 31 seconds to seal the hard-fought victory.
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Lady Flames will host Sam Houston (6-15, 1-8 CUSA) for Senior Day, Feb. 17 at Liberty Arena. Jordan Bailey and Bella Smuda will be recognized prior to the 2 p.m. tipoff. Liberty won its first meeting with the Bearkats by an 84-77 score on Jan. 20, aided by Emma Hess's career-high 30 points.
Liberty moves to 11-14 overall and 6-4 in CUSA play after completing a season sweep of the Lady Techsters. In a game which featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes, the Lady Flames won despite shooting just 30 percent (18-of-60) from the field.
Louisiana Tech drops its fifth straight contest, dropping to 8-16 overall and 2-7 in conference action. All seven of the Lady Techsters' CUSA losses have come by eight points or fewer.
Smuda became the 21st member of Liberty's 1,000-point club with a spinning hoop from inside the paint with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
Welcome to the 1,000-point club, Bella Smuda!
— Liberty Women's Basketball (@LibertyWBB) February 10, 2024
Bella becomes the 21st 1,000-point scorer in program history with this hoop! pic.twitter.com/ZxDDAqBdGy
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Hess – 29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 6-10 3FG; Hodges – 13 points, 4 assists; Smuda – 11 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 11 rebounds.
LA Tech Individuals: Salma Bates – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Robyn Lee – 10 points, 6 rebounds; Anna Larr Roberson – 9 points, 4 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Almost half of Liberty's made field goals (8-of-18) on the day came from three-point range, where the Lady Flames shot 33.3 percent (8-of-24). Free throw shooting was key. Both teams attempted 17 foul shots, but Liberty made four more than the Lady Techsters (14-10). Louisiana Tech struggled offensively as well, making 33.9 percent (19-of-56) of its field goal attempts. The game featured only 11 total turnovers (5 by LA Tech and a season-low 6 for Liberty). Liberty outrebounded its hosts, 44-39, turning 14 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points. The Lady Techsters won the battle of bench points, 19-4.
Turning Point
Hess turned an offensive board into a three-point play with 2:03 left, giving Liberty a 50-48 advantage. Anja Bukvic then swished a corner triple 20 seconds later, putting LA Tech back in front by a single point (51-50).
On Liberty's ensuing possession, Aegisdottir tracked down an offensive board and found an open Hodges on the left wing. The point guard's three-pointer at the 1:13 mark gave Liberty a lead it did not relinquish (53-51).
Zero's huge 3 which put the Lady Flames ahead for good today! pic.twitter.com/DQ94d8ZAYd
— Liberty Women's Basketball (@LibertyWBB) February 10, 2024
The Lady Flames' defense produced back-to-back stops, and Hodges and Hess combined to make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 31 seconds to seal the hard-fought victory.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Louisiana Tech led 12-9 after a first quarter where the Lady Techsters held visiting Liberty to 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from the field and 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from three-point range.
- Emma Hess hit three triples during an 11-point second quarter, matching Louisiana Tech's team output for the stanza.
- Liberty used a 10-2 run late in the half to build a 29-23 halftime advantage.
- Anna Larr Roberson scored five points during a 7-0 run by the Lady Techsters to open the second half, enabling the home team to retake the lead.
- But two more Hess triples and the hoop which put Smuda over 1,000 helped Liberty regain a one-point edge (38-37) heading to the fourth.
- Hess scored 12 of Liberty's 20 points during a final 10-minute stanza which saw the lead change hands six times.
A club only for ??s! CONGRATULATIONS, Bella???? pic.twitter.com/MDLcpRCGCY
— Liberty Women's Basketball (@LibertyWBB) February 10, 2024
- Smuda not only joined the 1,000-point club on Saturday but also continued climbing Liberty's all-time rebounding chart. Her game-high 13 boards give Smuda 673 for her career, tying her with Keyen Green for 12th all-time.
- Smuda is the sixth Lady Flame to reach the 1,000-point mark in the last five seasons, joining Keyen Green, Ashtyn Baker, Emily Lytle, Bridgette Rettstatt and Mya Berkman.
- Smuda produced her 12th double-double of the season and the 14th of her career. She has recorded six double-doubles in 10 CUSA contests.
- Hess' six triples set a season high, and her 29 points were one shy of her career high. She has totaled 59 points in Liberty's two CUSA road wins after tallying a career-best 30 at Sam Houston on Jan. 20.
- Aegisdottir's 11 rebounds shattered her previous high of seven, achieved twice.
- Liberty improves to 1-8 when scoring fewer than 60 points this season, while LA Tech is now 7-1 when holding its opponent below 60.
- The Lady Flames recorded their first-ever CUSA win over Louisiana Tech (66-59 at Liberty Arena on Jan. 13) and now have completed their first CUSA season sweep at the hands of the Lady Techsters.
- Saturday marked the third consecutive game where Liberty has recorded 10 or fewer turnovers.
The Lady Flames will host Sam Houston (6-15, 1-8 CUSA) for Senior Day, Feb. 17 at Liberty Arena. Jordan Bailey and Bella Smuda will be recognized prior to the 2 p.m. tipoff. Liberty won its first meeting with the Bearkats by an 84-77 score on Jan. 20, aided by Emma Hess's career-high 30 points.
Team Stats
Lib
LATech
FG%
.300
.339
3FG%
.333
.333
FT%
.824
.588
RB
44
39
TO
6
5
STL
1
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
2
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
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