Baker Scores 1,000th Point but Liberty Falls at UNF, 68-67

Liberty's Ashtyn Baker scored her 1,000^th point at a crucial juncture of Sunday's contest at North Florida, giving her team a five-point lead with 7:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Ospreys held the Lady Flames to five points the rest of the way, pulling out a 68-67 come-from-behind win to complete a two-game weekend sweep at UNF Arena.

Liberty (12-5, 8-2 ASUN), which led by as many as 10 points during the third quarter, was held scoreless over the game's final 3:29, missing four field goals and committing a turnover during that time. Dee Brown's potential game-winning driving layup during the closing seconds caromed off the rim, and the Lady Flames fell to 0-4 all-time at UNF Arena.

North Florida (10-7, 8-2 ASUN) pulls into a second-place tie with the Lady Flames in the ASUN standings despite never leading until 1:49 remained in the contest. The Ospreys were outrebounded 45-30 for the game, but a key offensive board by Emma Broermann led to her two game-winning free throws with 1:49 left. Neither team scored a point the rest of the way.

Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Baker – 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 turnovers in 30 minutes; Brown – 12 points; Mya Berkman – 9 points, 10 rebounds; Emily Lytle – 8 points, 8 rebounds.

North Florida Individuals: Jazz Bond – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 8-8 FT; Rhetta Moore – 15 points, 9-10 FT.

Key Team Stats: Liberty shot just 36.8 percent (25-of-68) from the field and 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from three-point range. North Florida shot 80.6 percent (25-of-31) at the foul line, compared with 64.3 percent (9-of-14) for the Lady Flames. Liberty's 21 offensive rebounds led to 21 second-chance points. The Lady Flames' 18 turnovers led to 17 North Florida points.

Turning Point
After Broermann's pair of free throws gave UNF a 68-67 edge with 1:49 to play, Liberty's defense tightened. Lytle drew a charge and Berkman came up with a blocked shot on the Ospreys' two remaining possessions.

However, Liberty could not capitalize at the other end, as Kennedi Williams, Baker and Brown all misfired during the last two minutes of play.

Game Summary
First Quarter
• Liberty led throughout the first period after jumping out to a quick 9-0 advantage to begin the matinee. The Lady Flames led 21-13 at the end of the stanza, thanks in large part to rebounding (15-3 advantage) and defense (UNF shot just 2-of-11 from the field).

Second Quarter
• After a cold start from the perimeter, North Florida knocked down three triples in less than two minutes, including one by Erin Jones which cut Liberty's lead to 31-30, 1:50 before halftime.

• Liberty responded with a 7-0 burst and took a 38-32 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Twelve offensive rebounds led to 13 second-chance points during the opening half for the Lady Flames. UNF kept it close due to 10 Liberty turnovers and a 12-of-12 showing from the foul line.

Third Quarter
• Liberty built a pair of 10-point third quarter leads. The visiting Lady Flames were in front 49-39 after Brown's hoop with 4:29 to play.

• The Ospreys then outscored Liberty 14-6 over the remainder of the period, shaving their deficit to two (55-53) heading to the fourth.

Fourth Quarter
• The duo of Moore (7 points) and Broermann (4 points, 3 offensive rebounds) was big for North Florida during the final period. Broermann's work on the glass helped UNF outrebound Liberty 10-7 during the deciding stanza.

Notes and Nuggets
• Baker, whose 15 points on Sunday give her 1,003 for her career, eclipsed 1,000 with a corner three-pointer from directly in front of the Liberty bench with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter. She is the 17^th member of Liberty's 1,000-point club.

• Baker also matched a season high with five assists, leading all players in that category.

• Following a 13-point outing on Saturday, Brown has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time as a Lady Flame.

• Berkman grabbed double-digit rebounds for the third time this season and the fourth time in her career.

• Lytle's eight rebounds give her 362 for her career, moving her into 50^th place in program history. She also nearly joined Baker in the 1,000-point club on Sunday, ending the contest at 996.

• One day after North Florida's Marissa Mackins scored a career-high 33 points, Liberty limited her to four points on 1-of-10 shooting.

• North Florida improved to 4-3 all-time against the Lady Flames, as the home team has won all seven head-to-head meetings.

• Liberty dropped to 0-4 in games decided by five points or fewer this season and has now lost consecutive games for the first time since opening the year with losses at Ohio (Nov. 25) and Virginia Tech (Nov. 28).

Up Next
Liberty is currently scheduled to play host to Stetson on Saturday and Sunday for its final two home games of the regular season, with tipoff slated for 2 p.m. each afternoon inside Liberty Arena. However, the ASUN schedule is subject to change.