WBB Game Day: Sam Houston

Game Day Coverage

Liberty Storylines

For the second year in a row, Liberty (8-5, 2-0 CUSA) will host Sam Houston (8-4, 1-0 CUSA) for the Lady Flames' CUSA home opener. This marks the lone regular-season meeting between two of CUSA's four remaining unbeaten teams in conference action.
The Lady Flames have opened CUSA play with a 2-0 record for the first time, thanks to victories at New Mexico State (67-62) and UTEP (86-66).
Liberty is 5-0 all-time against Sam Houston. The Lady Flames topped the Bearkats three times in 2024-25, culminating with a win in the CUSA quarterfinals.
The Lady Flames are playing just their second home game since Thanksgiving. They are 68-11 all-time at Liberty Arena, including 39-3 in conference games.
Avery Mills earned her first CUSA Player of the Week honor on Monday after averaging 23.5 ppg and hitting 11 three-pointers at a 68.8 percent clip. She scored a career-high 25 points (21 in the second half) at New Mexico State and knocked down a career-best six triples during a 22-point outing at UTEP.
Claudia Acin hit four three-pointers of her own in the UTEP win, contributing to her career-high 20-point outburst. She added seven assists and three steals.

Notes and Anecdotes

Thursday's matchup will feature two of four remaining unbeaten teams in CUSA play, with Liberty and Sam Houston combining to go 3-0 on the road last week.
The Lady Flames have won 13 straight games against CUSA opponents, a streak which began with their 74-54 victory at Sam Houston on Feb. 8, 2025.
Sam Houston's 67-64 victory at CUSA preseason favorite Louisiana Tech on Friday was especially notable, as the Bearkats had gone just 2-15 in CUSA road tilts during their first two seasons of league play.
Liberty is 5-0 versus Sam Houston, with the most recent victory coming in last year's CUSA quarterfinals. The Bearkats brought back all five starters from that game, while Elisabeth Aegisdottir is the Lady Flames' lone returning starter.
The Lady Flames are hosting Sam Houston for their CUSA home opener for the second year in a row. This marks the teams' only regular-season matchup in 2025-26.
Sam Houston ranks No. 2 nationally in turnovers forced, as its opponents average 28.1 miscues per game. Remarkably, Liberty is 2-1 this season when committing 25+ turnovers.
Sam Houston has connected on 47 three-pointers this season, just four more than Avery Mills has hit by herself.

Home Sweet Home

The Lady Flames return to Liberty Arena on Thursday for the first time in 26 days and just the second time since Thanksgiving.
Liberty is 3-2 at home this season, pushing its all-time mark at Liberty Arena to 68-11.
The Lady Flames are 39-3 in conference games at Liberty Arena, including 24-1 in the ASUN and 15-2 in CUSA. They went 9-0 in CUSA matchups at Liberty Arena last season.

CUSA Checkup

Liberty has been successful during its first three years of CUSA membership, headlined by its regular-season and tournament titles in 2024-25.
The Lady Flames are 34-8 versus CUSA foes over the last three seasons, including 29-7 in conference play, 5-1 in the CUSA Championship, 15-2 at home and 14-5 on the road.
Liberty has faced four CUSA foes without suffering a loss over the past three years, including Kennesaw St. (2-0), New Mexico St. (6-0), Sam Houston (5-0) and UTEP (5-0).
The Lady Flames are off to their first 2-0 conference start as a CUSA member.
Liberty has won its conference home opener 10 of the last 12 seasons, spanning three leagues.

Amazing Avery

Avery Mills was named CUSA Player of the Week on Monday, becoming the first Lady Flame to win the honor since March 4, 2024 (Emma Hess).
Mills' career-high 25 points at New Mexico State on Friday were the most by a Lady Flame since Nov. 16, 2024 (Bella Smuda - 27 at Tennessee).
21 of Mills' points against the Aggies came after halftime, marking the highest-scoring half by a Liberty player since Feb. 29, 2024 (Hess - 24 at New Mexico State).
Mills' career-high six triples at UTEP on Sunday were the most by a Lady Flame since Nov. 4, 2024 (Hess - 6 vs. Valparaiso).

Schedule