The Liberty University Women’s Basketball team fell to Duke University 71-57 Nov. 16 in the Liberty Arena to bring their overall record to 2-2 so far this season.
The game began with a slow start as both teams settled into the anticipated matchup. Lady Blue Devils sophomore forward Toby Fournier got the scoring started, giving her team the early lead.
The Lady Flames scored their first basket over five minutes into the game when sophomore guard Avery Mills found freshman center Lynn Peters for an easy layup.
The Lady Flames began to find some momentum on a 7-point run, ending with sophomore center Emmy Stout who was able to get the hoop two possessions in a row to bring Liberty within 1 point of the Lady Blue Devils with under two minutes left in the first quarter. The teams traded baskets to bring the score 19-13 as Duke held the lead at the end of the first quarter.
Duke kept the pressure on Liberty in the second quarter as its aggressive full-court man defense forced the Lady Flames to turn the ball over several times in the first half. Mills led the Lady Flames in scoring with 8 points at the half.
Duke relied on senior guard Ashlon Jackson, who was hot from deep, sinking triple 3-pointers and tallying 16 points in the first half as the Lady Blue Devils took a 41-27 lead going into the break.
Liberty found early success out of halftime as the Lady Flames jumped out on an 8-point run to bring the score 41-35 near the midpoint of the third quarter. Stout started to find her rhythm scoring a couple tough buckets in the paint. Liberty’s defense proved to be tricky for the Lady Blue Devils as the Lady Flames outscored Duke 17-14 in the third quarter, bringing the score to 55-44 with Duke still in the lead.
The Lady Blue Devils were able to find their own rhythm again in the fourth as Fournier provided a steady hand, hitting multiple jumpers in the final stretch. Stout remained hot, continuing to find her spots in the paint, proving herself once again as a go-to option.
Stout finished the competition with a game high 21 points while Fournier led the Lady Blue Devils with 18 points. Mills finished with 13 points, and redshirt freshman forward Ify Nwaobi added 8 points for the Lady Flames.
“We’re a young team. We’re learning how to win,” Head Coach Alexis Sherard said. “We’re still in the process of learning our team, learning the coaching staff. I’m very pleased with the effort that our ladies gave.”
At the end of the game, Liberty honored former Head Coach Carey Green, who retired after this past season,ending his 26-year coaching career with the Lady Flames. Green finished with a record of 591-240, making him the winningest coach in the history of Liberty Athletics.
“Coach Green is the pillar, the ambassador,” Sherard said. “He laid the foundation for this team, for this program. The last 26 years, he’s done it the right way.”
Liberty looks to snap its two-game losing streak Nov. 26 when the Lady Flames face the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Liberty Arena. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.
Szepanski is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion.