Liberty was beaten Thursday evening in a close battle with the Sam Houston Bearkats by a score of 59-53. This was the Flames’ first home game since December and was certainly not the outcome that was expected for Liberty as they enter their competitive schedule involving conference foes for the rest of the season.
This loss broke Liberty’s win streak of 2 and made this their first loss of January. This brings Liberty to a record of 8-6 (2-1 in Conference USA) and gives Sam Houston a strong record of 9-4 (2-0 in Conference USA).
During the first quarter the Bearkats offense seemed to be too much for the Lady Flames as turnovers were the tale to start, and a stagnant offense led to a five point lead for Sam Houston, in the second, LU found their ground while bringing in a lot of second-chance points to help stabilize their scoring, which found both teams scoring 15 in the second.
In the third, Liberty looked to have figured it out as they played their best defensive quarter, holding Sam Houston to just 8 points while also outscoring them 11-8. The fourth quarter proved to be the difference. Sam Houston raised its offensive intensity, scoring 23 points in the final ten minutes by converting key baskets in transition and repeatedly getting to the free-throw line. Liberty kept pace offensively with 19 points of their own, but defensive breakdowns and late turnovers prevented a full comeback. Each time Liberty threatened to close the gap, the Bearkats responded with timely scoring. Despite a strong effort down the stretch, Liberty was unable to overcome the late surge, as Sam Houston closed out a 59–53 win.
Team-wise, both teams shot at a low percentage. Liberty shot 33.3 percent from the field, while Sam Houston shot 37.5%. The three-point percentages were even lower, with Liberty at 31.3% and Sam Houston at a low of 15.4%. Both teams were close in terms of stats, as shown by how close the rebounds, points in the paint, and even turnovers were.
The game was a close, decisive battle that came down to the very end. LU had some decent performances as they were led offensively by Elisabeth Aegisdottir and Emmy Stout, who each scored eleven points, with Aegisdottir also adding three assists. Avery Mills finished with ten points and was perfect from the free-throw line, going five for five. Ify Nwaobi had a strong performance on the glass, recording eight points and a career-high sixteen rebounds, providing Liberty with extra possessions throughout the game.
While the Lady Flames had multiple players contribute, no Liberty player scored more than eleven points, which limited their offensive ceiling in a low-scoring contest.
Upside-wise, Liberty showed strength on the boards, highlighted by Ify Nwaobi’s sixteen rebounds and Emmy Stout’s activity on the offensive glass, which helped create second-chance scoring opportunities. The Lady Flames also received balanced contributions across the lineup, with multiple players reaching double figures and Avery Mills converting consistently at the free-throw line.
Defensively, Liberty held Sam Houston to just eight points in the third quarter, demonstrating the ability to make effective halftime adjustments and compete in half-court defensive sets.
Regarding downsides, offensive efficiency was a major challenge, as Liberty struggled to score consistently and finished the game shooting a low percentage from the field. Turnovers proved costly, with Sam Houston’s pressure leading to lost possessions and easy scoring chances for the Bearkats. Late-game execution also hurt the Lady Flames, as defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities in the fourth quarter allowed Sam Houston to pull away and control the final minutes.
Liberty’s upcoming game against Louisiana Tech is significant because it gives the Lady Flames a chance to rebound immediately after their loss to Sam Houston and reassert themselves near the top of Conference USA standings. Liberty has beaten Louisiana Tech multiple times in recent meetings, including a decisive win in last season’s CUSA semifinals, and holds a strong all-time lead in the series, which can build confidence heading into this matchup. Beating Louisiana Tech would help Liberty stabilize its momentum, improve its conference record, and reinforce its claim as a top C-USA team this season. Conversely, a loss would underline the need for adjustments in consistency and offensive execution against quality opponents.
