Liberty University
17-5,12-2ASUN
Stetson
7-12,5-9ASUN
Lytle Scorches Nets During 66-55 Senior Day Win Over Stetson
2/28/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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With her team trailing at halftime of Sunday's Senior Day matchup with Stetson at Liberty Arena, Liberty senior Emily Lytle came out firing. She knocked down four of her career-high six three-pointers during the third quarter, propelling the Lady Flames to a 66-55 victory.
Lytle finished with a game-high 22 points as the Lady Flames' four seniors (also Ashtyn Baker, Nenna Lindstrom and Bridgette Rettstatt) combined for 43 of the team's 66 points on the afternoon. Liberty improves to 17-5 overall and 12-2 in the ASUN after completing an undefeated inaugural season at Liberty Arena (12-0) and posting its 17th straight home win overall.
Stetson drops to 7-12 overall and 5-9 in ASUN play despite 20 points from Yazz Wazeerud-Din. The Hatters were limited to 21 second-half points on 25 percent (6-of-24) shooting from the field.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Lytle – 22 points, 6-9 3FG, 6 rebounds; Rettstatt – 10 points, 6 rebounds; Baker – 8 points, 5 assists; Mya Berkman – 7 points, 5 rebounds.
Stetson Individuals: Wazeerud-Din – 20 points, 6 rebounds; Megan Vincent – 11 points, 3 blocks; Kiya Turner – 11 points.
Key Team Stats: One day after being outrebounded for the first time in 10 games, Liberty won the battle of the boards, 44-23, with 13 offensive boards leading to 16 second-chance points. The Lady Flames knocked down 10 three-pointers on the day, seven of which came after halftime. Stetson kept it close by turning Liberty's 21 turnovers into 18 points.
Turning Point
Wazeerud-Din's three-point play 21 seconds into the second half put the Hatters in front, 37-31.
Liberty then seized control of the game with an 18-4 surge over the next 5:22. Lytle knocked down four triples during that time, including one which put the Lady Flames ahead 49-41 with 4:17 left in the third. Stetson never got closer than four points down for the remainder of the game.
Game Summary
First Quarter
• The opening quarter featured three ties and four lead changes before Liberty went on a 9-0 run late in the period to take a 23-18 advantage into the second quarter.
• Nine different Lady Flames scored points during the first 10 minutes, and Liberty enjoyed a 13-3 rebounding advantage.
Second Quarter
• Liberty's offense slowed to a crawl during the second quarter. The Lady Flames managed only eight points on 3-of-12 shooting with seven turnovers.
• The visiting Hatters knocked down three triples within a 1:36 span, including a pair by Jamiya Turner, opening up a 34-28 lead. A Lytle three-pointer then brought Liberty within three (34-31) at the intermission. Neither team scored a point during the final 3:08 of the opening half.
Third Quarter
• Liberty took a 53-47 cushion into the final period after shooting 56.3 percent (9-of-16) during a 22-point third quarter. Lytle scored 12 of those points on her four three-pointers.
Fourth Quarter
• Wazeerud-Din tallied eight fourth-quarter points for Stetson, but her teammates totaled zero as the Hatters shot just 27.3 percent (3-of-11) for the stanza.
• Baker's three-pointer late in the shot clock with 3:06 to play all but sealed the Lady Flames' Senior Day triumph, making the score 66-52 at that juncture.
Notes and Nuggets
• Lytle's 20-point game was her fifth of the season and the 15th of her career.
• Lytle's six three-pointers were the most by a Lady Flame since Jan. 18, 1999, when Sharon Wilkerson knocked down a program-record eight triples against Charleston Southern. Lytle was 1.5 years old at the time.
• Priscilla Smeenge set a new career high with her team-best seven rebounds.
• Liberty knocked down 10 or more three-pointers for the fifth time this season. The Lady Flames have now hit 166 triples this year. The program single-season record is 175 three-pointers, set in 2013-14.
• Liberty finished the season with an undefeated home record for the seventh time in program history and the first since the 2017-18 Lady Flames went 15-0 at the Vines Center. That was the freshman season for current seniors Baker and Rettstatt.
• The Lady Flames have won 17 straight home games overall, the team's longest home winning streak since a 21-game streak which spanned Feb. 28, 2005-Nov. 16-2006.
• Liberty went 5-2 during the month of February and is now 143-23 in February contests under Carey Green.
Up Next
Liberty will wrap up the regular season with a pair of games in Fort Myers, Fla., against ASUN Conference leader FGCU (21-2, 14-0 ASUN). The Lady Flames and Eagles will square off Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. inside Alico Arena. If Liberty wins both games, it would claim a share of its first-ever ASUN regular-season title.
