The Liberty Lady Flames have opened Conference USA play with a 1-2 mark. Here’s a recap from the last couple of weeks as well as a look at this week’s schedule:

L, 99-73 @ Richmond, Dec. 16

Richmond shot 54% and knocked down a season-high 17 three pointers during a win over Liberty at the Robins Center. The Lady Flames suffered its fourth consecutive loss despite shooting 48.1%. The Lady Flames’ 20 turnovers led to 25 Richmond points as they fell to the Spiders for the second year in a row. Richmond put six players into double figures led by the duo of Maggie Doogan (22 points) and Siobhan Ryan (21 points on seven triples). The Spiders improved to 23-4 all-time versus the Lady Flames, and their 17 three-pointers equaled the most Liberty has ever given up in a game.

W, 65-52 vs Grand Canyon, Dec. 20

Career-high scoring outputs by the Liberty duo of Bella Smuda (24 points) and Asia Boone (18 points) helped the Lady Flames post a wire-to-wire 65-52 win over Grand Canyon at Liberty Arena. The Lady Flames improve to 4-9 after snapping a four-game losing streak. They are now 5-0 all-time against WAC opponents, including 2-0 this season, and moved to 45-5 in their first 50 games played inside Liberty Arena. Preseason WAC favorite Grand Canyon, which had won six straight, drops to 8-3 on the season. The Lopes shot just 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the field, scoring a season-low 52 points.

W, 69-49 vs Randolph, Dec. 29

Facing crosstown foe Randolph for the first time in 41 years, Liberty used a significant size advantage to produce a 69-49 victory at Liberty Arena. The Lady Flames improve to 5-9 with their second consecutive win, coming nine days after their last outing due to the Christmas holiday. Bella Smuda continued her impressive month of December, leading all players in points (18) and rebounds (10) for her sixth double-double of the year.

L, 90-55 vs Tennessee, Dec. 31

Tennessee’s first-ever visit to Liberty was a successful one. The Lady Vols posted a 90-55 victory before a Liberty Arena women’s basketball record crowd of 2,105 in both teams’ final non-conference game of the season. Liberty finishes a challenging non-conference slate at 5-10. The seventh 2023 NCAA Tournament qualifier the Lady Flames have faced this season, Tennessee forced 19 Liberty turnovers and outrebounded the home team, 52-43.

L, 68-66 vs Western Kentucky, Jan. 6

The two teams picked to tie for second place in the CUSA women’s basketball standings went right down to the wire in the conference opener at Liberty Arena. In the end, visiting WKU was able to erase a 13-point halftime deficit and post a 68-66 victory, spoiling Liberty’s conference debut. The Lady Flames’ 24 turnovers, 15 of which came after halftime, proved too much to overcome.

L, 78-63 @ Jacksonville State, Jan. 10

Liberty overcame a 20-point first-half deficit, coming all the way back to tie it at 50-50 early in the fourth quarter. However, the host Jacksonville State Gamecocks outscored the Lady Flames 28-13 the rest of the way to pull away for a 78-63 victory. Liberty’s record falls to 5-12 overall including 0-2 in Conference USA play with its third straight loss despite getting a career-best night from Bella Smuda (26 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks). Three-point shooting proved to be a main factor, with Jax State outscoring the Lady Flames 36-3 from beyond the arc.

W, 66-59 vs Louisiana Tech, Jan. 13

Trailing Louisiana Tech by 11 at halftime of Saturday afternoon’s contest at Liberty Arena, the host Lady Flames turned to Emma Hess. She scored all of her team-high 14 points after halftime, leading Liberty to a 66-59 comeback win, its first-ever Conference USA triumph. Liberty improves to 6-12 overall and 1-2 in CUSA play, snapping a three-game losing skid. The Lady Flames, who got another big game from Bella Smuda (13 points, 15 rebounds), outscored the Lady Techsters by a 38-20 count after halftime.

Upcoming schedule

1/18 @ FIU, 7pm, ESPN+
1/20 @ Sam Houston, 3pm, ESPN+