Senior-day stand
Lady Flames continue conference dominance against Lady Bucs
Tower — The taller junior forward Ashley Rininger (55) skies above Lady Buccaneers forward Brianna Lakes (24) as she reaches for an offensive rebound. Photo credit: Courtney Russo
Behind a second-half turnaround, the Liberty women’s basketball team came from behind to defeat the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern, 64-53, earning a 17th Big South Conference victory of the season Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21.
With another conference victory over Charleston Southern (5-22, 1-17 Big South), the Lady Flames (21-6, 17-1 Big South) became the first team ever in the Big South Conference to win 17 conference games in a season. The Lady Flames of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 were previously tied for the record with 16 conference wins.
More history was made as redshirt junior forward Ashley Rininger scored her 1000th point, making her the 15th Lady Flame to accomplish the feat. Rininger recorded a double-double, leading all players with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Lady Flames Head Coach Carey Green said he is proud of Rininger’s accomplishment and her contribution to the team.
“She was really focused,” Green said. “Hopefully in the next year or so, she can add a couple hundred or so to those points. We are thankful she chose Liberty and (for) her continued development academically and physically as a basketball player.”
On Senior Day, in which the game was moved from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. due to winter weather in the forecast, the Lady Flames found themselves down early 22-26, which progressed to a 31-29 Buccaneer lead at the half.
The Flames shot a mere 10 percent from the three-point line in the first half, while the Buccaneers were lights out, draining six of 10 three pointers.
“(Charleston Southern) knocked down some key shots and executed their offense very well,” Green said. “We got a little sloppy. I’d like to give them credit to their offense for being good and shooting the ball.”
However, the Lady Flames would not be down for long. The Lady Flames responded right away in the second half with a dominant 21-4 run to take the 50-35 lead.
Redshirt junior forward Catherine Kearney scored eight of her nine points during the Lady Flames run to retake the lead.
According to Kearney, a balanced offensive attack and tough defense were the keys to the Lady Flames’ second half surge.
“I think we really needed to focus on rebounding and coming out with a sense of urgency, not just sitting back on defense, but really going after the ball,” Kearney said.
Green echoed Kearney’s words, as the Lady Flames halftime adjustments were the difference in the game.
“We adjusted specifically to a couple plays that they were running and how to handle screens,” Green said. “I think that took away some easy looks at the basket. It was a combination of a defensive effort and understanding and not turning the ball over and being more effective in the second half.”
The Lady Flames offensive attack and strong inside presence proved too much for the Buccaneers, as they were never able to gain back their first half lead. The Lady Flames finished with 46 rebounds and 20 second-chance points en route to their ninth consecutive victory.
In a ceremony following the match, the Lady Flames four seniors, Karly Buer, Emily Frazier, Jasmine Gardner and Ellee Rollins, were honored for their contributions to the program. Kearney said it was an honor to help lead the Lady Flames to victory on a special afternoon for many of her teammates.
“I am just so happy for (the seniors),” Kearney said. “They definitely deserve all the honor that they’ve been given. I am really happy that we were able to come out with a win for them.”
With another victory in the books and the first seed for the Big South conference tournament already locked up, Rininger said these last few games are tune-ups for postseason play.
“(The games give) us another opportunity to continue working on our defense and working on running our offenses, figuring out the things we need to work on and improve on,” Rininger said.
Yet, Green always keeps the ultimate goal in mind — making it to the NCAA tournament and being successful there.
“The hungry lion hunts best,” Green said. “We are still in the hunt. We want a conference championship tournament win and to get into NCAAs.”
The Lady Flames will have another opportunity to fine-tune their attack Feb. 24 at home against Winthrop, the only team in the Big South to hand Liberty a loss this season.
RODRIGUEZ is a sports reporter.