Liberty University
18-10, 15-4
Winthrop
4-24, 3-16
Inside/Outside Attack Leads Liberty Over Winthrop
3/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Production from the perimeter (seven three-pointers) and inside the paint (double-doubles by Ashley Rininger and Katelyn Adams) keyed Liberty's 59-42 victory over Winthrop, Tuesday evening at the Winthrop Coliseum.
Rininger finished with a team-high 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Adams chipped in 10 points and 10 boards. The duo also combined for five of the Lady Flames' nine blocked shots and helped Liberty win the rebounding battle, 52-35.
As a result, Liberty improves to 18-10 overall and 15-4 in the Big South with its third straight win. The Lady Flames remain in a tie with UNC Asheville for first place in the conference standings entering the final day of the regular season.
Winthrop, which dressed only eight players due to injury, falls to 4-24 overall and 3-16 in conference play with its fifth straight loss. Freshman Arianne Whitaker paced the Eagles with nine points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and four steals, but Winthrop shot just 23.7 percent (14-of-59) from the floor on the night.
Both teams struggled at the offensive end during the first quarter, with Liberty shooting 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from the field and Winthrop making 23.5 percent (4-of-17) of its field goals. Sadalia Ellis scored five first-quarter points and Jaymee Fisher-Davis ended the period with a three-pointer, giving the Lady Flames a 12-8 advantage through 10 minutes of play.
Liberty hit four triples during the second quarter, including two by Stephanie Patton within 17 second span. The freshman's trifecta at the 1:44 mark lifted the Lady Flames' lead to a dozen points (26-14). Liberty led 28-18 at halftime after shooting 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from three-point range and blocking seven Winthrop shots during the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles trimmed their deficit to 35-27 on a CiiCii Buford three-pointer with 3:56 to play in the third quarter, before Liberty countered with an 8-0 run. Molly Reagan's hoop at 2:11 gave Liberty a 43-27 advantage, and the Lady Flames took a 45-31 lead into the final quarter.
Adams and Rininger helped Liberty close out its victory in the fourth quarter, combining for 10 straight Liberty points. Rininger's bank shot at the 3:09 mark posted the Lady Flames to their largest lead (57-39). Liberty ended up with a 17-point margin of victory after holding its second straight opponent below the 50-point mark.
The Lady Flames ended the night at 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from three-point range and a season-high 90.9 percent (10-of-11) at the free throw line.
In addition to outrebounding its 15th straight opponent, Liberty enjoyed considerable advantages in points in the paint (26-14) and bench points (32-6). The Lady Flames' 32 bench points marked a season high.
Rininger's double-double, her first since Nov. 20, was her sixth double-double in a row when facing Winthrop. The Buckeye State native has now posted three double-doubles this season and 36 for her career.
Adams, who recorded a team-high three blocked shots, recorded her sixth double-double of the year and the 15th of her career.
Candice Leatherwood made it a trio of double-digit scorers for the Lady Flames, contributing 10 points and six rebounds.
Backcourt mate Ellis matched her season high with seven assists, reaching the 400 mark for her career. The senior also came up with a team-high three steals.
Patton scored a career-high eight points in 11 minutes off the bench for the Lady Flames.
On a night when she was honored for scoring her 1,000th career point, Aliyah Kilpatrick paced Winthrop with 12 points.
Liberty will close out the regular-season Saturday at the Vines Center, when the Lady Flames play host to Presbyterian (16-12, 12-7 Big South). Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. as the Lady Flames attempt to avenge a 60-42 setback at Presbyterian on Jan. 9 and claim at least a share of their 16th Big South regular-season championship.
Prior to tipoff, the Lady Flames will recognize seniors Katelyn Adams, Sadalia Ellis, Jaymee Fisher-Davis, Catherine Kearney and Ashley Rininger.
