Hess’s Career Day Propels Liberty Past Lipscomb, 65-56

Liberty’s Emma Hess (career-high 28 points, career-high seven triples) recorded the best game of her career, Saturday afternoon at Allen Arena. Her efforts led the Lady Flames to a key 65-56 victory over ASUN co-leader Lipscomb.

Liberty improves to 13-7 overall and 7-2 overall with its fifth consecutive win, the last three of which have come at the expense of ASUN-leading opponents. Hess tallied 22 of her points after halftime, including 14 in the fourth quarter and nine during a pivotal 15-2 run to begin the final stanza.

The Lady Flames also got key efforts from Dee Brown (season-high 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Mya Berkman (7 points, game-high 15 rebounds, 2 blocks) while improving to 9-0 all-time against the Bisons.

Lipscomb drops to 13-8 overall and 7-2 in the ASUN, seeing its four-game win streak halted despite Claira McGowan’s 17 points off the bench.

Box Score Highlights

Liberty Individuals: Hess – 28 points, 7-12 3FG; Brown – 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Berkman – 7 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks; Kennedi Williams – 5 points, 5 assists; Pien Steenbergen – 4 blocks

Lipscomb Individuals: McGowan – 17 points, 8-12 FG; Bella Vinson – 10 points, 5 rebounds; Molly Heard – 9 points; Aleah Sorrentino – 8 points, 5 rebounds.

Key Team Stats: Liberty shot only 39 percent (23-of-59) from the field for the game but knocked down 10 triples at a 34.5 percent clip and missed only two free throws (9-of-11, 81.8 percent) for the second game in a row. The Lady Flames outrebounded the Bisons, 40-31, and scored 25 points off Lipscomb’s 14 turnovers. Lipscomb posted a 26-6 advantage in bench points.

Turning Point

Lipscomb seemingly owned the momentum heading into the fourth quarter after scoring the final eight tallies of the third to take a 44-41 lead.

Liberty then took the lead for good with a 15-2 run to begin the fourth quarter, aided by three of Hess’s triples.

Berkman’s layup at the 5:41 mark closed out the pivotal surge with Liberty now owning a 56-46 lead it would never relinquish.

Game Summary

First Quarter

• Both teams made their first field goal attempts of the afternoon but struggled for the remainder of the opening period.
• Liberty led 14-9 after a first quarter where it shot 31.3 percent (5-of-16) to Lipscomb’s 18.8 percent (3-of-16).

Second Quarter

• The lead changed hands four times during the second 10 minutes of play before Liberty emerged with a 27-25 halftime edge.
• The Lady Flames were aided by three triples during the stanza.

Third Quarter

• Emma Hess scored eight third-quarter points for the Lady Flames, who led by as many as seven (32-25).
• Lipscomb ended the quarter with an 8-0 run, taking a 44-41 lead after Jalyn Holcomb’s jumper swished through the net as the buzzer sounded.

Fourth Quarter

• Lipscomb scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter, cutting its deficit to 56-52 on McGowan’s pull-up jumper with 2:59 left.
• Hess then got a steal which led to her three-point play 34 seconds later, ending the Bisons’ chances at a late comeback.
• Hess personally outscored Lipscomb during the final period, 14-12.

Notes and Nuggets

• Hess shattered her previous career highs of 17 points and five triples. Her 28 points were the most by a Lady Flame since Emily Lytle scored 30 at Memphis on Dec. 6, 2020, and her seven triples were the most by a Liberty player since Sharon Wilkerson made a program-record eight at Charleston Southern on Jan. 18, 1999.
• Hess scored 22 of her 28 points after halftime, becoming the first Lady Flame with a 20-point half since Feb. 20, 2012, when Devon Brown tallied 20 in the second half at Presbyterian.
• Brown’s season-high 13 points put her over 500 for her career. She finished the contest with 508 career points.
• Berkman saw her streak of double-digit scoring efforts halted at 10. It was the longest streak by a Liberty player since Ashley Rininger posted 15 consecutive double-figure games spanning the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
• Williams’ five assists gave her six straight games of 5+ helpers and 10 in the last 11 contests.
• Steenbergen’s four blocked shots were the most by a Lady Flame this season and exceeded her career total of three entering the game.
• Saturday’s game marked Liberty’s first visit to Allen Arena since Feb. 29, 2020. The Lady Flames are now 3-0 all-time at the facility.
• Liberty’s 9-0 record against Lipscomb matches its best mark against any ASUN opponent. The Lady Flames are also 9-0 versus next Saturday’s opponent, Kennesaw State.
• The Lady Flames went 7-2 during January and are now 166-30 during the month under Carey Green.
• Saturday’s game marked the third time this year Liberty has won after trailing entering the fourth quarter.

Up Next

The Lady Flames will return to Liberty Arena for their next two contests, beginning with a Thursday 7 p.m. clash against Jacksonville State (11-9, 4-5 ASUN). It will mark Liberty’s first meeting with the Gamecocks since Jacksonville State edged the Lady Flames, 59-57, in the 2022 ASUN Championship semifinals.

Featured in Main Photo: #23 Emma Hess