The Liberty Lady Flames saw its four game win streak snapped by league leading Middle Tennessee but bounced back with a road win at Louisiana Tech, moving its record to 11-14 overall and 6-4 in Conference USA play. Here’s a recap from the last week as well as a look at this week’s schedule:
W, 81-55 @ Middle Tennessee, Feb. 8
Led by 20-point games from Anastasiia Boldyreva and Savannah Wheeler, hot-shooting Middle Tennessee posted an 81-55 victory over Liberty during the first-ever meeting between the CUSA foes, Thursday evening at the Murphy Center.
Liberty sees its season-best four-game winning streak halted despite another strong performance by reigning CUSA Player of the Week Bella Smuda (18 points, 7 rebounds). The Lady Flames got off to a fast start, leading 22-17 early in the second quarter before the Lady Raiders took control.
Middle Tennessee improves to 18-4 overall and remains unbeaten in CUSA play at 8-0 with its eighth straight win. The defending conference champion shot well from the field (56.5 percent on 26-of-46), three-point range (47.4 percent on 9-of-19) and the foul line (83.3 percent on 20-of-24).
W, 58-53 @ Louisiana Tech, Feb. 10
Liberty’s Emma Hess scored 29 points on six made three-pointers while Bella Smuda became the 21st member of the program’s 1,000 point club as part of a double-double. The Lady Flames used a late 6-0 run, keyed by a Jordan Hodges triple, to help pull away for the road victory. The game featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes and Liberty won despite shooting just 30% from the field.
Liberty’s Emma Hess went wild (29 points, 6 three-pointers) and Bella Smuda scored her 1,000th career point as part of a double-double. But it took a late 6-0 run keyed by a Jordan Hodges triple for the Lady Flames to come away from Louisiana Tech with a 58-53 victory, Saturday afternoon at Thomas Assembly Center.
Upcoming schedule
2/17 vs Sam Houston, 2pm, ESPN+
CUSA Standings
Middle Tennessee…9-0
FIU……………………….7-2
Liberty…………………6-4
Western Kentucky…6-4
New Mexico State…4-5
Jax State………………4-6
UTEP……………………..3-6
LA Tech……………….2-7
Sam Houston………..1-8