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Saturday, December 20
Makawao, Hawai'i
12:30 AM ET/7:30 PM HT (Dec. 19)
Liberty University
6-4,0-0CUSA
58
vs
67
Hawai'i
6-5,0-2Big West
1
2
3
4
F
Hawaii
16
17
19
15
67
Liberty
15
7
10
26
58
Emma Leon scored nine of her 13 points during the fourth quarter.
Liberty’s Furious Comeback Falls Short Against Hawai’i in 67-58 Setback
12/20/2025 3:32:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MAKAWAO, Hawai'i – Liberty cut a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to five during Friday night's Maui Classic clash against Hawai'i. However, the Rainbow Wahine held on for a 67-58 victory to close out the opening day of action at Seabury Hall.
The Lady Flames fall to 6-4 with their second straight loss despite an inspiring effort by their reserves. Led by Lydie Mwamba (13 points) and Emma Leon (13 points), Liberty's bench players scored the team's final 24 points of the game. But the Lady Flames could not overcome Hawai'i's season-high 13 three-pointers or their own off night from the foul line (10-of-18 for 55.6 percent).
Hawai'i is now 6-5 after picking up its second win in a row and prevailing in its first-ever meeting with the Lady Flames. Imani Perez scored a team-high 14 points, including four triples, and blocked three of her squad's seven shots on the night.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Mwamba – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3-5 3FG; Leon – 13 points, 4-5 FG, 4-4 FT; Ify Nwaobi – 8 points, 5 rebounds; JaKayla Thompson – 6 points, 4 assists.
Other Hawai'i Individuals: Keiara Curtis – 13 points, 3 assists, 5-6 FT; Bailey Flavell – 10 points; Saniya Neverson – 10 points, 2 blocks, 2-4 3FG.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot a higher percentage than the Rainbow Wahine from the floor (43.8 percent to 38.2 percent) and three-point range (42.9 percent to 40.6 percent). However, Hawai'I got more shot attempts due to Liberty's 19 turnovers (compared with a dozen for the Rainbow Wahine). The Lady Flames grabbed 36 rebounds to Hawai'i's 26. The Rainbow Wahine recorded all seven of the contest's blocked shots. Both teams saw their reserves score more points than their starters, with Liberty and Hawai'i each tallying exactly 35 bench points.
Turning Point
Avery Mills opened the second-quarter scoring with a perimeter jumper that put Liberty in front 17-16.
Hawai'i countered with a 17-3 run which began with four made triples. Ritorya Tamilo's free throw 1:58 before halftime closed out the extended surge with her team in front 33-20.
Despite numerous comeback attempts, Liberty never regained the lead.
Notes and Nuggets
Liberty will wrap up the Maui Classic and its non-conference schedule on Saturday, facing tournament host Oregon State (7-5) at 11 p.m. Eastern. The Beavers held off Montana State for a 53-51 victory in Friday's opening contest.
The Lady Flames fall to 6-4 with their second straight loss despite an inspiring effort by their reserves. Led by Lydie Mwamba (13 points) and Emma Leon (13 points), Liberty's bench players scored the team's final 24 points of the game. But the Lady Flames could not overcome Hawai'i's season-high 13 three-pointers or their own off night from the foul line (10-of-18 for 55.6 percent).
Hawai'i is now 6-5 after picking up its second win in a row and prevailing in its first-ever meeting with the Lady Flames. Imani Perez scored a team-high 14 points, including four triples, and blocked three of her squad's seven shots on the night.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Mwamba – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3-5 3FG; Leon – 13 points, 4-5 FG, 4-4 FT; Ify Nwaobi – 8 points, 5 rebounds; JaKayla Thompson – 6 points, 4 assists.
Other Hawai'i Individuals: Keiara Curtis – 13 points, 3 assists, 5-6 FT; Bailey Flavell – 10 points; Saniya Neverson – 10 points, 2 blocks, 2-4 3FG.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot a higher percentage than the Rainbow Wahine from the floor (43.8 percent to 38.2 percent) and three-point range (42.9 percent to 40.6 percent). However, Hawai'I got more shot attempts due to Liberty's 19 turnovers (compared with a dozen for the Rainbow Wahine). The Lady Flames grabbed 36 rebounds to Hawai'i's 26. The Rainbow Wahine recorded all seven of the contest's blocked shots. Both teams saw their reserves score more points than their starters, with Liberty and Hawai'i each tallying exactly 35 bench points.
Turning Point
Avery Mills opened the second-quarter scoring with a perimeter jumper that put Liberty in front 17-16.
Hawai'i countered with a 17-3 run which began with four made triples. Ritorya Tamilo's free throw 1:58 before halftime closed out the extended surge with her team in front 33-20.
Despite numerous comeback attempts, Liberty never regained the lead.
Notes and Nuggets
- Mwamba set career highs for points (13) and three-pointers made (3) as she scored in double figures for the first time as a Lady Flame.
- Leon (13 points) matched Mwamba's nine-point fourth quarter output to reach double digits for the second time in the freshman's first 10 collegiate appearances.
- Nwaobi tied for the team lead with five rebounds but was held below 10 boards for the first time in the last eight games. The redshirt freshman's string of seven straight contests with double-digit rebounds was the longest by a Lady Flame since assistant coach Katie (Feenstra) Mattera did so in eight consecutive outings as a junior (Jan. 17-Feb. 16, 2004).
- Liberty's two leading scorers on the season, Avery Mills (4 points) and Emmy Stout (3 points), were both held to their lowest point totals of the year and Mills failed to make a three-pointer for the first time as a sophomore.
- Liberty outscored Hawai'i 26-15 during the fourth quarter, with 24 points coming from reserves. It marked the Lady Flames' highest-scoring quarter of the season.
- The Lady Flames have yet to be outrebounded this season.
- Liberty falls to 3-1 all-time against Big West opponents. Prior to Friday, the Lady Flames had not faced a Big West foe in 17 years.
- Friday marked the Lady Flames' first-ever game played in Hawai'i.
Liberty will wrap up the Maui Classic and its non-conference schedule on Saturday, facing tournament host Oregon State (7-5) at 11 p.m. Eastern. The Beavers held off Montana State for a 53-51 victory in Friday's opening contest.
Team Stats
Hawaii
Lib
FG%
.382
.438
3FG%
.406
.429
FT%
.750
.556
RB
26
36
TO
12
19
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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