The Liberty Lady Flames won its two games this past week, beating Jax State and Kennesaw State on the road. The Flames needed a virtual buzzer beater from Bella Smuda in the win over the Owls on Saturday to secure the team’s sixth straight win. Liberty is now 21-6 overall and 14-2 in conference play entering the final week of the regular season.

Liberty has now reached the 20-win mark 23 times in the last 29 seasons, including 20 of 26 years under head coach Carey Green. The Flames also became the first CUSA school to record 20 wins in both men’s and women’s basketball this season before Middle Tennessee joined those ranks over the weekend, as well.

This sets up a huge week upcoming in the final week of the regular season. Liberty is just one game behind MTSU in conference standings and two games ahead of Western Kentucky for second place. The Lady Flames conclude the week against those two teams beginning Thursday night against the Blue Raiders, both contests at Liberty Arena.

Here’s a recap of the team’s recent action:

W, 71-55 @ Jax State, Feb. 27

Liberty earned its 20th victory of the season on Thursday night with a win at Jacksonville State. The Lady Flames had significant advantages in rebounds (41-31), points in the paint (38-10), and bench points (36-13), continuing trends we have seen all season long. Liberty’s 5th consecutive victory marked its first win inside Pete Mathews Coliseum in three tries. The Lady Flames are 17-0 this season when out rebounding its opponent. The underclass trio of sophomore Asia Boone (12 points), freshman Avery Mills (11), and freshman Emmy Stout (11) paced the Lady Flames’ balanced offensive attack as Liberty completed a season sweep of the Gamecocks.

Jax State made two three pointers in the first 2:15 of Thursday’s clash, racing out to a quick 8-2 advantage. Liberty then outscored the Gamecocks 16-5 over the next six minutes with field goals from seven different players. Avery Mills closed out the surge with a reverse layup that made the score 18-13 Liberty in the final minute of the opening quarter. The Lady Flames would not trail again and eventually extended the lead to as many as 19.

W, 71-69 @ Kennesaw State, March 1

Bella Smuda’s contested basket from close range with 0.4 seconds remaining lifted Liberty to the two-point road win against Kennesaw State on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Flames led by 16 points late in the first half before the Owls roared back to tie the score three times in the second half. Liberty was able to hang on for its sixth consecutive win overall and 13th straight over Kennesaw State.

Asia Boone led Liberty with a season high 19 points on 4 of 10 shooting from three. Emma Hess added 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists while Smuda added 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The Lady Flames dominated on the glass and converted 19 offensive boards into 19 second chance points. Liberty also had 19 bench points compared to just 3 from the Owls.

With Liberty leading by two in the closing moments, the Lady Flames missed two free throws and two field goals. Kennesaw’s Carly Hooks was then fouled attempting a three-pointer with six seconds left. She hit two of three from the line to tie the game at 69 and setting the stage for Smuda’s heroics.

Upcoming schedule

3/6 vs Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN+
3/8 vs Western Kentucky, 2 p.m., ESPN+

CUSA Standings

Middle Tennessee…….15-1
Liberty……………………….14-2
Western Kentucky……..12-4
New Mexico State…….8-8
FIU……………………………7-9
Louisiana Tech…………7-9
Kennesaw State……….6-11
Sam Houston……………5-11
Jacksonville State…….4-13
UTEP…………………………3-13