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Saturday, December 20
Makawao, Hawai'i
11:00 PM ET/6:00 PM HT
Liberty University
6-5,0-0CUSA
57
vs
64
Oregon State
8-5,0-0WCC
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
9
16
17
15
57
Oregon St.
11
14
20
19
64
Avery Mills scored 14 points against Oregon State in the Maui Classic finale.
Oregon State Finishes on 11-2 Run to Edge Liberty, 64-57
12/21/2025 1:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MAKAWAO, Hawai'i – Maui Classic host Oregon State ended the two-day tournament with an 11-2 run, Saturday night at Seabury Hall. That enabled the Beavers to pull out a 64-57 victory over Liberty and emerge at the event's only 2-0 squad.
The Lady Flames (6-5) led 55-53 after all-tournament team member Ify Nwaobi hit a layup with 4:39 remaining. However, Liberty then missed seven of its final eight shot attempts and lost its third game in a row including its second in as many nights in Maui.
Oregon State improves to 8-5 after getting a career-high 21 points from tournament MVP Kennedie Shuler (five coming during the game-ending 11-2 surge). The Beavers, who became the first team to outrebound Liberty this season (28-26), overcame the Lady Flames' early 10-point lead to improve to 2-0 all-time against Liberty.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Avery Mills – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3-7 3FG; Emmy Stout – 14 points; Lynn Peters – 10 points, 2-2 3FG; Nwaobi – 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
Oregon State Individuals: Shuler – 21 points, 6 rebounds; Jenna Villa (all-tournament team) – 13 points; Ally Schimel – 8 points, 2-4 3FG; Nene Sow – 6 points, 6 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Both teams shot the ball well despite what the final score might indicate. Liberty hit 43.6 percent (24-of-55) of its field goals, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from long range and all three of its free throw attempts. The Beavers countered at 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from beyond the arc and 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the line. Both squads took good care of the basketball, with Oregon State recording nine turnovers and Liberty a dozen. The Lady Flames and Beavers were even in points in the paint (28-28), blocked shots (5-5) and second-chance points (2-2). Oregon State finished with a 15-12 edge in bench points.
Turning Point
After falling behind by nine during the third quarter, Liberty rallied to take the lead four different times during the final period. The last came on Nwaobi's aforementioned layup at the 4:39 mark.
Shuler's driving layup on Oregon State's ensuing possession tied the score at 55, and Villa's mid-range jumper with 1:32 left proved to put the Beavers on top for good (57-55).
Oregon State knocked down seven of eight free throws during the final minute to seal the deal.
Notes and Nuggets
Liberty will open defense of its CUSA title on Jan. 2 at New Mexico State (3-8). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern at the Pan American Center, and both teams' conference opener will air on ESPN+.
The Lady Flames (6-5) led 55-53 after all-tournament team member Ify Nwaobi hit a layup with 4:39 remaining. However, Liberty then missed seven of its final eight shot attempts and lost its third game in a row including its second in as many nights in Maui.
Oregon State improves to 8-5 after getting a career-high 21 points from tournament MVP Kennedie Shuler (five coming during the game-ending 11-2 surge). The Beavers, who became the first team to outrebound Liberty this season (28-26), overcame the Lady Flames' early 10-point lead to improve to 2-0 all-time against Liberty.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Avery Mills – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3-7 3FG; Emmy Stout – 14 points; Lynn Peters – 10 points, 2-2 3FG; Nwaobi – 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
Oregon State Individuals: Shuler – 21 points, 6 rebounds; Jenna Villa (all-tournament team) – 13 points; Ally Schimel – 8 points, 2-4 3FG; Nene Sow – 6 points, 6 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Both teams shot the ball well despite what the final score might indicate. Liberty hit 43.6 percent (24-of-55) of its field goals, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from long range and all three of its free throw attempts. The Beavers countered at 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from beyond the arc and 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the line. Both squads took good care of the basketball, with Oregon State recording nine turnovers and Liberty a dozen. The Lady Flames and Beavers were even in points in the paint (28-28), blocked shots (5-5) and second-chance points (2-2). Oregon State finished with a 15-12 edge in bench points.
Turning Point
After falling behind by nine during the third quarter, Liberty rallied to take the lead four different times during the final period. The last came on Nwaobi's aforementioned layup at the 4:39 mark.
Shuler's driving layup on Oregon State's ensuing possession tied the score at 55, and Villa's mid-range jumper with 1:32 left proved to put the Beavers on top for good (57-55).
Oregon State knocked down seven of eight free throws during the final minute to seal the deal.
Notes and Nuggets
- Nwaobi tallied six of her eight points during the final period while pacing the team in rebounds (seven) and blocked shots (career-high three). She averaged 8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.5 bpg during Liberty's two Maui Classic tilts.
- After being limited to a combined seven points during Friday's 67-58 setback to Hawai'i, Mills and Stout posted 14 apiece on Saturday. Both sophomores have now reached double figures in nine of the Lady Flames' 11 games this season.
- Peters (10 points) scored in double figures for the second time as a freshman, aided by the freshman's first two career triples. Both connections came within a 48-second span late in the third period, helping Liberty erase a nine-point deficit.
- Liberty's 57 points matched a season low (also 57 vs. Duke).
- The Lady Flames had not been outrebounded since Feb. 6, 2025 at Louisiana Tech prior to Saturday.
- Liberty has lost three in a row for the first time since Dec. 31, 2023-Jan. 10, 2024.
- The Lady Flames' first two games in Hawai'i in program history both tipped off on the same day (Dec. 20) in Eastern time, including a 12:30 a.m. Eastern tip for the Hawai'i matchup and an 11 p.m. Eastern start for the Oregon State tilt.
Liberty will open defense of its CUSA title on Jan. 2 at New Mexico State (3-8). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern at the Pan American Center, and both teams' conference opener will air on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Lib
OSU
FG%
.436
.451
3FG%
.429
.389
FT%
1.000
.846
RB
26
28
TO
12
9
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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