Weekend highs and lows

Men’s and women’s basketball teams hit the road

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams went on the road Saturday, Feb. 2. The Liberty Lady Flames (17-6, 9-2 Big South) were poised to extend their three-game winning streak, while the men (7-16, 3-6 Big South) looked to build off their 89-72 victory against Campbell.

Women’s side

Against the High Point Lady Panthers (12-9, 6-4 Big South), Liberty avenged last month’s (71-63) home loss, defeating them 69-57.

After shooting 21 percent (8-37) from the field in the first half, Liberty headed into halftime trailing 38-23. After the intermission, the Lady Flames opened the second half with a 23-4 run, giving them a six-point advantage with 11:46 left in the game.

Layin’ it in — Tolu Omotola has 22 points,12 rebounds against High Point. Photo credit: Ruth Bibby

As time dwindled, the Lady Panthers went on a small run of their own taking a one-point lead, but it was quickly extinguished as Liberty answered, helping them hold on for an eight-point victory. After a poor shooting performance in the first half, Liberty went 15-32 (46 percent) in the second.

Forward Tolu Omotola lead all scorers with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. Seventeen of those 22 points came in the second half. Guard Devon Brown finished with 16 points, three assists and three steals, and guard Emily Frazier ended the night with seven points and 10 assists.

The win keeps the Lady Flames atop the Big South, sharing No. 1 with Winthrop.

Men’s side

The Winthrop Eagles (10-11, 4-5 Big South) won the only meeting with the Flames this season 66-56. After posting 89 points against Campbell, the Flames shot poorly from the field, only making 19-56 (34 percent) shots.

Despite poor shooting, the Flames found themselves in a close game. Liberty went into halftime trailing 26-23, but the Eagles began to heat up. The Flames were able to hang around due to defense, ball control and free-throw shooting. However, Winthrop was able to open a 64-51 lead with 2:03 left in regulation.

Guard Tavares Speaks finished the game with 15 points, while guard Devon Marshall had 11. Forward Tomasz Gielo chipped in with 10 points.

Eagles forward Joab Jerome had a game-high 18 points and six rebounds.

The Lady Flames will go on the road to face Longwood Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m., while the Flames will return home to face Radford Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.

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