The No. 2 seed Liberty Lady Flames outlasted the No. 7 seed Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 62-59, to advance to the CUSA Tournament semifinals on Friday evening.
Liberty’s Asia Boone, the CUSA Freshman of the Year, hit a three pointer with 19 seconds remaining to put the Flames up, 60-56. Following a WKU made triple five seconds later, Emma Hess hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left on the clock to push the Lady Flames up three. Liberty had to overcome two missed three pointers by the Hilltoppers to clinch the win.
Boone led the way with 17 points while Jordan Bailey also scored 17, making five of six three pointers. Bella Smuda chipped in 10 points and 12 rebounds. Both Bailey and Smuda were hampered with four fouls on the afternoon.
The Lady Flames never trailed in the game and now advance to the conference tournament’s semifinal round for the seventh straight year and the 27th time in the last 28 seasons. Liberty will meet the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal between No. 3 seed FIU and No. 6 seed New Mexico State on Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern.
