Final Score: Lipscomb: 56, Liberty: 65
Location: Nashville, TN. (Allen Arena)
Records:  Lipscomb: (13-8, 7-2 ASUN), Liberty (13-7, 7-2 ASUN)

THE SHORT STORY

Lipscomb Women's Basketball had their four-game winning streak snapped by Liberty at Allen Arena as the Lady Flames caught fire from outside in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bisons 65-56. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Neither team opened the contest shooting well, as both squads anchored down defensively. 

Liberty's size caused some issues for the Bisons, forcing them to shoot 3-of-16 in the first quarter.

They dominated the boards right out of the gate, recording five offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of action.  

The Bisons managed to hang around by making several effort plays and fighting for fifty-fifty balls. 

Jalyn Holcomb got the Bisons going as she knocked down a three, which cut the Lady Flames' lead to just four (10-6) with 3:36 to go in the first quarter.

Later in the frame, Molly Heard put in a three-pointer from well beyond the arc to cut the Lady Flames' lead back down to four. 

Lipscomb and Liberty traded baskets to close out a defensive battle in the first quarter with the Lady Flames holding a 14-9 advantage. 

The Bisons opened the second frame on a 5-0 run to take the lead, as they saw scoring from a host of players, and eventually took the lead on a deep two from Claira Mcgowan.

Liberty continued to execute offensively for timely points, but the Bisons were able to respond. 

The Lady Flames were able to stretch their lead back out to four in the second quarter, but the squad answered with a well-placed pass by Aleah Sorrentino to Blythe Pearson on a backdoor cut to keep the Bisons within a pair.  

Liberty pushed their lead to four again, but Ainhoa Cea was able to reply with a shifty move at the rim and a finish. 

As a result of that bucket, Lipscomb trailed by two at the break.

Lipscomb shot 33.3% from the floor in the first half and was led by Molly Heard, who totaled seven points. 

Similar to the game's opening possession, Liberty ran a set play to start the third quarter and drained a three-pointer to extend their lead to five. 

Liberty went on several runs, holding seven and six-point lead in the quarter; however, the Bisons eventually swung the momentum with a much-needed final three minute stretch to end the quarter. 

The momentum started to shift on the defensive end, where the Bisons got some huge stops which led to easy buckets.

Bella Vinson put in a deep ball to start the Bisons' 11-2 run to end the quarter.

Then, Claira McGowan converted her and-one opportunity, and Bella Vinson connected on another three to give the Bisons their first lead since the second quarter. 

To close the frame, Holcomb got a smooth midrange jumper to go through at the buzzer to give Lipscomb a three-point lead entering the final quarter.

Liberty quickly fought back with a 7-0 run to start the fourth to take the lead and then caught fire from three. 

Emma Hess of the Lady Flames buried three straight from downtown in less than a minute to give her squad a swift 10-point advantage with 6:38 remaining.

The Bisons managed to cut the lead down to four on a jumper from McGowan with a little under two minutes left, but could not get the continued stops needed in crunch time and fell to the Lady Flames 65-56.

HERD NOTES

• Claira McGowan led the Bisons with a career-high 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting. 
• The Bisons shot 46.3% on the day and held Liberty to just 39%.
• Liberty out-rebounded Lipscomb 40-31 overall and 13-6 on the offensive end.
• The squad was only 3-of-14 from deep, whereas the Lady Flames finished 10-of-29.

UP NEXT

Lipscomb will hit the road for two straight, the first being against Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 4:00 p.m. CT.