Monday, November 2
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-0,0-0CUSA
73
vs
30
Frostburg State
0-0,0-0MEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg St. | 6 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 30 |
| Liberty | 17 | 18 | 15 | 23 | 73 |
Freshman Kendyl Smith contributed four steals to Liberty's stifling defensive effort against Frostburg State.
11/2/2026 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Defense made the difference for Liberty in its 2026-27 season opener, Monday evening at Liberty Arena. The Lady Flames held Frostburg State scoreless for the contest's final 14:14, closing out a 73-30 triumph on a 32-0 run.
Liberty (1-0) won its fourth consecutive lid-lifter, three of which have come against Frostburg State. The Bobcats' 30 points were the fewest the Lady Flames have allowed since a 109-26 win over Randolph on Dec. 11, 2024, the only previous time Liberty held an opponent scoreless for an entire quarter.
Frostburg State, which classified the contest as an exhibition, has yet to officially open its 2026-27 campaign. The Bobcats shot just 22.6 percent (12-of-53) from the field and committed 26 turnovers which led to 34 Liberty points.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Sophia Gregory – 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6-7 FG; Emmy Stout – 14 points, 5 rebounds; Ify Nwaobi – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2-5 3FG; JaKayla Thompson – 9 points, 5-5 FT.
Frostburg State Individuals: Julie Spinelli – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Ayla Hileman – 8 points; Jenna Muha – 6 points, 3 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished at 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the field despite shooting an identical 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from three-point range as the visitors. The Lady Flames were 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the line, as compared with 50 percent (2-of-4) for Frostburg State. Liberty, which started four players standing 6-2 or taller, dominated the rebound category (54-30), while tallying 18 assists and 15 steals. The Lady Flames, who never trailed, owned significant advantages in points in the paint (48-14) and bench points (22-5).
Turning Point
Liberty jumped out to a 10-0 lead to begin the game, but the scrappy Bobcats kept the score within reach for much of the night. Frostburg State trimmed its deficit to 11 (41-30) when Laekyn Flinn's layup punctuated a 7-0 run with 4:15 to play in the third quarter.
However, Lynn Peters answered with a layup of her own at the opposite end, initiating the Lady Flames' aforementioned 32-0 surge. Frostburg missed all 13 of its field goal attempts and committed a dozen turnovers the rest of the way.
Notes and Nuggets
The Lady Flames will play each of their next four contests in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State trek begins Saturday at 5 p.m. with a visit to East Carolina. The contest at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum will air on ESPN+.
Liberty (1-0) won its fourth consecutive lid-lifter, three of which have come against Frostburg State. The Bobcats' 30 points were the fewest the Lady Flames have allowed since a 109-26 win over Randolph on Dec. 11, 2024, the only previous time Liberty held an opponent scoreless for an entire quarter.
Frostburg State, which classified the contest as an exhibition, has yet to officially open its 2026-27 campaign. The Bobcats shot just 22.6 percent (12-of-53) from the field and committed 26 turnovers which led to 34 Liberty points.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Sophia Gregory – 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6-7 FG; Emmy Stout – 14 points, 5 rebounds; Ify Nwaobi – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2-5 3FG; JaKayla Thompson – 9 points, 5-5 FT.
Frostburg State Individuals: Julie Spinelli – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Ayla Hileman – 8 points; Jenna Muha – 6 points, 3 rebounds.
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished at 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the field despite shooting an identical 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from three-point range as the visitors. The Lady Flames were 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the line, as compared with 50 percent (2-of-4) for Frostburg State. Liberty, which started four players standing 6-2 or taller, dominated the rebound category (54-30), while tallying 18 assists and 15 steals. The Lady Flames, who never trailed, owned significant advantages in points in the paint (48-14) and bench points (22-5).
Turning Point
Liberty jumped out to a 10-0 lead to begin the game, but the scrappy Bobcats kept the score within reach for much of the night. Frostburg State trimmed its deficit to 11 (41-30) when Laekyn Flinn's layup punctuated a 7-0 run with 4:15 to play in the third quarter.
However, Lynn Peters answered with a layup of her own at the opposite end, initiating the Lady Flames' aforementioned 32-0 surge. Frostburg missed all 13 of its field goal attempts and committed a dozen turnovers the rest of the way.
Notes and Nuggets
- Reigning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Gregory made an impact on both ends in her Liberty debut, tying for the game lead in scoring (14), dishing out a team-high three assists and adding a trio of steals and a rejection at the defensive end.
- Stout notched 10 of her 14 points after halftime, scoring in double figures for the fourth straight game dating back to last season.
- Nwaobi's double-double (12 points, game-high 12 rebounds) was the fifth of her career, and her five rejections tied a career high.
- Freshmen Trinity Holsinger (three points) and Kendyl Smith (two) each collected their first collegiate points on Monday, with Smith tying teammate Elisabeth Aegisdottir for the game high of four steals. The four thefts marked Aegisdottir's career high.
- This is the Lady Flames' seventh year playing at Liberty Arena, and Monday marked the team's 75th win at the facility. The Lady Flames are now 75-14 all-time at Liberty Arena.
- Nov. 2 is the earliest in the calendar year Liberty has ever tipped off a women's basketball season.
The Lady Flames will play each of their next four contests in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State trek begins Saturday at 5 p.m. with a visit to East Carolina. The contest at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum will air on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
FSU
Lib
FG%
.226
.426
3FG%
.167
.167
FT%
.500
.733
RB
30
54
TO
26
17
STL
8
15
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
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