LIONS DROP 90-87 ASUN SEMIFINAL MATCHUP TO LIBERTY

Box Score FLORENCE – Liberty built a 17-point lead in the second half before holding off North Alabama in overtime 90-87 Wednesday in the semifinal round of the ASUN Conference tournament at Flowers Hall. The win sends the Flames to the 2020 ASUN championship game while UNA falls to 21-9 and must wait to see if it gets a postseason bid.

UNA trailed 63-46 with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter before rallying to tie the game at the end of regulation. After closing the quarter with six straight points, the Lions cut the lead to single digits early in the fourth.

The Flames led 76-69 at the 2:29 mark before North Alabama closed regulation on a 9-2 run. UNA got four free throws by Ivy Wallen, while Kenysha Coulson connected on a basket and free throw to cap a three-point play with 1:16 left. A driving layup by Jaida Bond tied the game at 78-78 with 20 seconds remaining and the Lions got a defensive stop as time expired.

After the Flames hit 1-of-2 free throws to start overtime, a basket by Wallen gave UNA its first lead of the game. The Lions led by as many as four in the extra period before Liberty scored seven straight points to take control.

The Lions missed four straight shots from the floor until a basket by Wallen cut the deficit to 88-87 with 16 seconds remaining. Liberty's Emily Lytle connected on two free throws on the other end and UNA missed two shots as time expired.

Liberty was able to lead for 40:23 of playing time, thanks to a 11-of-18 performance from three-point range. The Flames entered the game averaging just over five treys per contest. The visitors also held a 41-30 rebounding advantage and scored 15 second-chance points.

A 7-0 spurt in the final minute of the first quarter gave Liberty a 29-16 lead. Ashtyn Baker hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Flames the 13-point advantage. UNA outscored the visitors 21-13 in the second quarter. A basket by Coulson with two seconds remaining made the score 42-37 at the break.

Liberty scored the first seven points of the second half to grab a 12-point lead and held a double-digit advantage until midway through the fourth quarter.

Bond led UNA with 19 points. The freshman from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was 6-of-9 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Olivia Noah hit four treys and finished with 17 points. Wallen added 15 points while Ansley Eubanks scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Lytle led Liberty (20-11) with a game-high 22 points.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Kenysha Coulson: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#00 Ansley Eubank: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#3 Ivy Wallen: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#5 Jaida Bond: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#14 Olivia Noah: F; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#24 Kenysha Coulson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#00 Ansley Eubank
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#3 Ivy Wallen
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#5 Jaida Bond
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#14 Olivia Noah
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F