Facing its toughest test of the young season on Wednesday in Raleigh, Liberty (2-1) suffered its first setback, falling to NC State (3-1), 71-47.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated as the Wolfpack went on a game-changing 20-0 run to close the game and push the contest out of reach for the visiting Lady Flames. During the run, Liberty was held scoreless over the final 8:11 of game action.
Liberty stayed within single digits of NC State throughout the first half, closing the first half on a 6-0 run while holding the Wolfpack without a field goal over the final 4:06. The Flames trailed at intermission, 28-25, overcoming four turnovers in the first two minutes of the contest. Sophia Gregory paced the Flames with 9 points and 4 rebounds in the opening half.
Ify Nwaobi, who entered the game leading the team in scoring and rebounding, was plagued with foul trouble throughout the game. She played just 20 minutes after picking up her fourth foul less than two minutes into the second half as she was virtually a non-factor after the halftime break.
Despite being without one of the team’s leaders, Liberty battled its ACC foe, grabbing its first lead of the night thanks to an 8-0 run. The lead grew to 33-30 by the end of the run before the Wolfpack quickly answered with a 6-0 run of their own to retake the lead. The Lady Flames wouldn’t back down quietly. Claudia Acin’s three-pointer cut the lead to 1 with 2:31 left in the third period. NC State would close the period on an 8-2 run to take a 49-42 lead into the final 10 minutes.
JaKayla Thompson scored Liberty’s only five points of the final period, coming in quick succession. That mini-burst cut the lead to 4 at 51-47 with just over 8 minutes remaining, but the Lady Flames would not score another point. During the long scoring drought, Liberty had 6 turnovers and missed its final six field goals. The Flames finished the game with 21 turnovers.
Thompson led the Flames with 12 points on 5 of 13 shooting. Gregory finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds; however, she scored her last points at the 7:03 mark of the third quarter. Emmy Stout added 8 points and 2 rebounds while Ify Nwaobi finished with 5 points and 9 rebounds.
The Lady Flames were aiming for their first 3-0 start since the 2021-22 season and their first-ever win over NC State. Liberty falls to 5-36 all-time against ACC opponents.
Liberty will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at North Carolina A&T at 7 p.m.
