Saturday, February 1
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
15-5,8-1CUSA
62
vs
53
Jacksonville State
9-11,3-6CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Jacksonville St.
15
10
15
13
53
Liberty
21
16
10
15
62
Bella Smuda
Smuda Stars as Liberty Hangs On For 62-53 Win Over Jax State
2/1/2025 5:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Bella Smuda (24 points, 13 rebounds) was superb for Liberty, Saturday afternoon against Jacksonville State. However, the Lady Flames had to hang on for a 62-53 victory inside Liberty Arena after the Gamecocks trimmed a 20-point deficit to one.
Liberty moves to 15-5 with its ninth consecutive home win and its seventh straight victory overall. The Lady Flames finish the first half of CUSA play at 8-1, led by considerable advantages in rebounding (45-31) and points in the paint (36-14). Liberty was able to overcome poor foul shooting (31.3 percent, 5-of-16), and the home team remained unbeaten in six all-time meetings between the Lady Flames and Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks drop to 9-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play with their seventh road setback in a row. Jax State more than doubled up Liberty in bench points (32-13) and forced 17 turnovers, but could not overcome 35.5 percent (22-of-62) field goal shooting.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Asia Boone – 12 points, 2-5 3FG; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 8 points, 9 rebounds.
Jax State Individuals: Mya Barnes – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3-7 3FG; Clara Gonzalez Planella – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2-6 3FG; Bre'Anna Rhodes – 10 points.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot well from the field (48.2 percent, 27-of-56), but hit only three of its 17 three-point attempts for 17.6 percent. Jacksonville State made more than twice as many three-pointers as Liberty, going 7-of-24 for 29.2 percent. However, the Gamecocks only got to the foul line three times, hitting two (66.7 percent). Liberty converted 10 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points and blocked five shots.
Turning Point
Elsie Harris' driving layup with 2:56 remaining cut Jax State's deficit to a single point (54-53), completing an extended surge which saw the Gamecocks outscore Liberty, 28-9.
That proved to be Jax State's final hoop of the matinee, as the Gamecocks missed their final six field goal attempts (two of which were blocked) and turned the ball over once.
On the opposite end of the court, Liberty's Aegisdottir scored on back-to-back possessions followed by Smuda's 12th and final made field goal of the game. That sent the Lady Flames' on their way to an 8-0 game-ending run.
Game Summary
First Quarter
Liberty will head to Louisiana Tech on Thursday, looking to complete a regular-season sweep of the Lady Techsters (11-9, 4-5 CUSA). Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. The game will be televised live on ESPN+.
Liberty moves to 15-5 with its ninth consecutive home win and its seventh straight victory overall. The Lady Flames finish the first half of CUSA play at 8-1, led by considerable advantages in rebounding (45-31) and points in the paint (36-14). Liberty was able to overcome poor foul shooting (31.3 percent, 5-of-16), and the home team remained unbeaten in six all-time meetings between the Lady Flames and Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks drop to 9-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play with their seventh road setback in a row. Jax State more than doubled up Liberty in bench points (32-13) and forced 17 turnovers, but could not overcome 35.5 percent (22-of-62) field goal shooting.
Box Score Highlights
Other Liberty Individuals: Asia Boone – 12 points, 2-5 3FG; Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 8 points, 9 rebounds.
Jax State Individuals: Mya Barnes – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3-7 3FG; Clara Gonzalez Planella – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2-6 3FG; Bre'Anna Rhodes – 10 points.
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot well from the field (48.2 percent, 27-of-56), but hit only three of its 17 three-point attempts for 17.6 percent. Jacksonville State made more than twice as many three-pointers as Liberty, going 7-of-24 for 29.2 percent. However, the Gamecocks only got to the foul line three times, hitting two (66.7 percent). Liberty converted 10 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points and blocked five shots.
Turning Point
Elsie Harris' driving layup with 2:56 remaining cut Jax State's deficit to a single point (54-53), completing an extended surge which saw the Gamecocks outscore Liberty, 28-9.
That proved to be Jax State's final hoop of the matinee, as the Gamecocks missed their final six field goal attempts (two of which were blocked) and turned the ball over once.
On the opposite end of the court, Liberty's Aegisdottir scored on back-to-back possessions followed by Smuda's 12th and final made field goal of the game. That sent the Lady Flames' on their way to an 8-0 game-ending run.
Game Summary
First Quarter
- Smuda scored her first eight points of the game during the opening quarter, matching the point total by Jax State reserve guard Gonzalez Planella.
- Liberty emerged with a 21-15 lead after tallying a dozen points in the paint during the first 10 minutes of action.
- Liberty held the Gamecocks scoreless for the second period's first 5:07, wrapping up a 13-0 run during that time.
- The Lady Flames took a 37-25 lead into the locker room after shooting 51.6 percent (16-of-31) during the opening half.
- Smuda scored the second half's first eight points by herself, extending the home team's advantage to 20 points (45-25) midway through the third quarter.
- Jax State closed out the third period on an 11-0 run, making it a seven-point game (47-40) heading to the fourth.
- Aegisdottir (six points) and Smuda (four points, five rebounds) stepped up in the interior during the fourth quarter, combining for five of the Lady Flames' six made field goals.
- Liberty's final margin of victory (nine points) was its smallest among eight CUSA victories this season.
- Smuda led all players in points (24) and rebounds (13). It marked her second 20-point game this season and the 10th of her career. Smuda's double-double was her fourth of the season and the 24th of her career.
- Smuda became Liberty's seventh player with 900 career rebounds on Saturday, finishing the afternoon at 912. She also leapfrogged Ashley Rininger for eighth place on Liberty's career scoring list with a current total of 1,395 career points.
- Boone scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 25th time in her career. Her first of two triples made the sophomore the 14th member of Liberty's career 100-triple club. Boone reached the milestone in 54 games, something only program career record holder Cynthia Thomson (46 games) has ever achieved faster for the Lady Flames.
- Liberty's free throw struggles came on the heels of a stretch where the Lady Flames had hit 32 of their previous 33 attempts from the line.
- The Lady Flames are now 4-2 all-time against Jax State, with four of the six meetings being decided by 10 points or fewer.
- Liberty opened February a win and is now 165-25 during the month under Carey Green.
- Despite some tenuous moments late, Liberty recorded its 99th consecutive win when leading with 5:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. The streak began during the 2020-21 season.
Liberty will head to Louisiana Tech on Thursday, looking to complete a regular-season sweep of the Lady Techsters (11-9, 4-5 CUSA). Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. The game will be televised live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
JSU
Lib
FG%
.355
.482
3FG%
.292
.176
FT%
.667
.313
RB
31
45
TO
10
17
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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