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Thursday, January 8
Lynchburg, Va.
5:00 PM ET
Liberty University
8-6,2-1CUSA
53
vs
59
Sam Houston
9-4,2-0CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Sam Houston
13
15
8
23
59
Liberty
8
15
11
19
53
Ify Nwaobi collected a career-high 16 rebounds on Thursday.
Sam Houston Edges Liberty in Defensive Struggle, 59-53
1/8/2026 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sam Houston's stingy defense forced 20 turnovers and held Liberty to a season-low point total on the way to a 59-53 decision, Thursday at Liberty Arena. The Bearkats have now opened CUSA play with road wins against the No. 1 (Louisiana Tech) and No. 2 (Liberty) teams in the conference's preseason poll.
The Lady Flames (8-6, 2-1 CUSA) had won 13 straight games against CUSA opponents prior to Thursday and fall to 39-4 all-time in conference contests at Liberty Arena. Liberty got a career-high 16 rebounds from Ify Nwaobi but lost the rebounding battle overall (40-38) and shot just 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the floor.
Sam Houston (9-4, 2-0 CUSA) recorded its first-ever victory over the Lady Flames in its sixth try, spoiling their CUSA home opener. Four of the Bearkats' starters scored in double figures, led by Deborah Ogayemi (17 points, 11 rebounds).
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 11 points, 3 assists; Emmy Stout – 11 points, 9 rebounds (8 offensive); Avery Mills – 10 points, 5-5 FT; Nwaobi – 8 points, 16 rebounds.
Sam Houston Individuals: Ogayemi – 17 points, 11 rebounds (8 offensive); Nyla Inmon – 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals; Fanta Kone – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals; Whitney Dunn – 10 points.
Key Team Stats: In addition to its shooting struggles from the floor, Liberty also shot below its season averages from three-point range (31.3 percent, 5-of-16) and the foul line (58.8 percent, 10-of-17). Sam Houston hit 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from beyond the arc and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) at the charity stripe. The Bearkats became the second straight opponent to outrebound Liberty (40-38), aided by 16 offensive boards. The Lady Flames collected 17 offensive rebounds of their own and matched their season high of 20 second-chance points. Sam Houston recorded 13 steals and turned Liberty's 20 turnovers into 16 points.
Turning Point
Liberty, whose last lead of the evening came at 8-6 in the first quarter, pulled within three points on three occasions during the fourth period.
Stout's layup with 2:14 to play cut the deficit to 49-46. However, Liberty was unable to score on its next two trips to the offensive end.
Dunn then rebounded her own missed shot and converted it into a three-point play for the Bearkats, doubling their advantage to 52-46 with just 44.1 ticks left.
Sam Houston sealed its road victory by hitting seven-of-eight foul shots the rest of the way.
Notes and Nuggets
Liberty will host CUSA preseason favorite Louisiana Tech (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) on Sunday in a nationally televised contest on ESPNU. The only regular-season meeting between the Lady Flames and Lady Techsters will tip off at 1 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
The Lady Flames (8-6, 2-1 CUSA) had won 13 straight games against CUSA opponents prior to Thursday and fall to 39-4 all-time in conference contests at Liberty Arena. Liberty got a career-high 16 rebounds from Ify Nwaobi but lost the rebounding battle overall (40-38) and shot just 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the floor.
Sam Houston (9-4, 2-0 CUSA) recorded its first-ever victory over the Lady Flames in its sixth try, spoiling their CUSA home opener. Four of the Bearkats' starters scored in double figures, led by Deborah Ogayemi (17 points, 11 rebounds).
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Elisabeth Aegisdottir – 11 points, 3 assists; Emmy Stout – 11 points, 9 rebounds (8 offensive); Avery Mills – 10 points, 5-5 FT; Nwaobi – 8 points, 16 rebounds.
Sam Houston Individuals: Ogayemi – 17 points, 11 rebounds (8 offensive); Nyla Inmon – 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals; Fanta Kone – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals; Whitney Dunn – 10 points.
Key Team Stats: In addition to its shooting struggles from the floor, Liberty also shot below its season averages from three-point range (31.3 percent, 5-of-16) and the foul line (58.8 percent, 10-of-17). Sam Houston hit 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from beyond the arc and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) at the charity stripe. The Bearkats became the second straight opponent to outrebound Liberty (40-38), aided by 16 offensive boards. The Lady Flames collected 17 offensive rebounds of their own and matched their season high of 20 second-chance points. Sam Houston recorded 13 steals and turned Liberty's 20 turnovers into 16 points.
Turning Point
Liberty, whose last lead of the evening came at 8-6 in the first quarter, pulled within three points on three occasions during the fourth period.
Stout's layup with 2:14 to play cut the deficit to 49-46. However, Liberty was unable to score on its next two trips to the offensive end.
Dunn then rebounded her own missed shot and converted it into a three-point play for the Bearkats, doubling their advantage to 52-46 with just 44.1 ticks left.
Sam Houston sealed its road victory by hitting seven-of-eight foul shots the rest of the way.
Notes and Nuggets
- Nwaobi's 16 rebounds (11 in the second half) were not only a career high but were the most by a Lady Flame since Dec. 11, 2024 (Emmy Stout – 16 vs. Randolph) and were just two off the Liberty Arena single-game record.
- Aegisdottir's 11 points set a new season high, and the junior equaled her career high of two made triples.
- Stout (11 points) and Mills (10 points) each scored in double figures for the 12th time in 14 games this season.
- Mills shot 5-of-5 from the foul line and has now made 11 in a row. The streak started with her game-winning foul shot at George Mason on Dec. 7.
- The Lady Flames are now 68-12 all-time at Liberty Arena but just 3-3 this season, having suffered back-to-back home setbacks.
- The Lady Flames dropped their 2025-26 CUSA home opener after going 9-0 against conference foes at Liberty Arena a year ago. Liberty's 39-4 conference mark at the facility includes a 15-3 record against CUSA foes and a 24-1 mark versus ASUN opponents.
- Prior to Thursday, Liberty's last loss to a CUSA foe came at Louisiana Tech on Feb. 8, 2025.
- Liberty is 0-4 this season when scoring 59 points or fewer and 8-2 when reaching the 60-point mark.
Liberty will host CUSA preseason favorite Louisiana Tech (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) on Sunday in a nationally televised contest on ESPNU. The only regular-season meeting between the Lady Flames and Lady Techsters will tip off at 1 p.m. inside Liberty Arena.
Team Stats
SHSU
Lib
FG%
.375
.333
3FG%
.154
.313
FT%
.714
.588
RB
40
38
TO
18
20
STL
13
7
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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