Final Score: Lipscomb: 51, Liberty: 64
Location: Lynchburg, Tenn. (Liberty Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: 8-15 (3-7, ASUN), Liberty: 22-1 (10-1, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY: A late Lipscomb surge fell short as the Bisons dropped its fifth-straight in ASUN play, falling 64-51 at Liberty.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Bisons found themselves at an early 7-0 deficit, but never panicked.
Jalyn Holcomb ignited the Lipscomb offense with a triple and
Jordan Peete drove to the bucket on the next trip down the floor to shave the early Liberty lead 7-5.
After another layup by the Flames,
Bella Vinson got her night going with a deep three-pointer to keep pace as the Bisons trailed 8-11 at the first media timeout. Out of the break, Liberty's defense clamped down and help the Bisons' without a score in over four minutes. Holcomb finally broke the drought with a mid-range step back jumper to end the first quarter at a 10-17 advantage.
Vinson continues to be hot from behind the arc with the first points of the second quarter continue to shave the Liberty lead, but a quick 6-0 run thanks to back-to-back triples on the Flames' end saw it jump back out to a 23-13 lead.
Blythe Pearson punched back with a triple in the corner, but the Bisons went cold over the next several minutes as Liberty went on another 6-0 run.
Sydney Shelton got the Bisons out of the slump, breaking the four-minute scoring drought with another trey to get Lipscomb back within 10.
Each team struggled in the final minutes of the second quarter with the only points in the final 3:48 coming at the free throw line for the Flames. Lipscomb looked like it would finish the second quarter with a four-minute scoring drought, but Holcomb heaved a deep three pointer as time expired that found the bottom of the net. The shot gave Lipscomb life heading into the halftime locker room and put the Bisons back within 10, with a 32-22 score at the break.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half as the Bisons shot 28 percent and the Flames 39 percent. Lipscomb's three ball kept them in the game, connecting on six in the first half. Liberty owned the boards, outrebounding Lipscomb 28-12 over the first 20 minutes, including 12 offensive rebounds for six second chance points.
The third quarter started off stale for Lipscomb as the Flames jumped out to a 38-22 lead after a 6-0 run. Lipscomb's scoring woes continued through the third quarter, making just two field goals in the third stanza. The Bisons were solid from the charity stripe but were outscored 11-18 in the quarter to find themselves behind 50-33 with just 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The squads traded buckets in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but Lipscomb found some life with just over six minutes left in the game. Lipscomb began full court pressure that spurred a 7-0 run with the help of a couple forced turnovers.
Diana Saleh, Collier and Holcomb notched buckets during the span to cut the lead 44-57 with 4:20 left in the game.
Lipscomb's intensity continued through the final minutes of the fourth quarter, holding the Flames without a field goal in the final six minutes. Liberty, however, converted from the free throw line down the stretch and downed Lipscomb 64-51 at Liberty Arena.
HERD NOTES
- Lipscomb shot 32 percent on the night and 29 percent from range.
- Liberty won the rebounding battle 48-32.
- Holcomb led Lipscomb with 14 points, her third double-digit performance in the last five games.
- Collier finished the night with 10 points, her eighth double-digit outing. She also grabbed a season-high eight rebounds.
- Pearson contributed nine points while Vinson and Shelton contributed six points each.
UP NEXT
The Bisons will return home for a tilt against Eastern Kentucky. Tipoff at Allen Arena is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT.
