Game #12 Loyola (Md)

[givemethemic]

Last game before we jump into conference play. As of today our RPI is at 83 and the 4 teams that we lost too our sitting inside the top 25. This a game that we should win, Loyola is 8-4 and (3-1) in the MAAC. But before you look at there record, look at there schedule and you will find that they have played nothing but a bunch of cupcakes. Since they are 8-4 there RPI is at 129 which will help ours out with a win. Scoring wise this is a pretty balanced team, so balanced that there leading scorer has yet to start a game that being Jackie Valderas who scores just a tick above 10 points a ball game. Looking into the stats a little bit I don't see them shooting alot of 3's seeing that they have only taken 92 so far do the math that is 7.67 attempts per game and they have only made 22, that's less than two a game. Gameplan should be simple play our tough 2-3 zone and make them shoot it. Should be another win for the girls, thoughts.......

[PAmedic]

ok. we'll go with that- you seem to have it covered!

[ATrain]

I'm guessing the prediction for this game is an American-style rout, eh?

[thesportscritic]

Loyola has played a bunch of cupcakes definitely as GMTM has said. Being that they are on our floor we should win this by 25 points. They have not played anybody. Lets see what happens tomorrow.

[SCAR]

I am confident in our group that we should get this win. However anything is possible in hoops and sometimes the ball doesn't go your way. I am not in to predicting scores or margins of victory but we should win this one in a 40 minute battle.

[Stevev]

There is always pressure on the home team but we usually come through in this situation. We should win this one by 15 at least.

[flamesfan710]

definitely...I think this one goes the way of American but a lot sooner

I got to meet Alex Bream Saturday night...she is very well grounded and does appreciate all teh support the family has been getting. WHen we had open dorms here at LU just before break I swung by her suite but she wasn't there (she appreciated the thought).

[PAmedic]

flamesfan710 said:

WHen we had open dorms here at LU just before break I swung by her suite but she wasn't there (she appreciated the thought).

oh I bet. She was probably hiding in the ladies bathroom the whole time, waiting for the "all clear" signal. ;D

[givemethemic]

I could not have said that any better myself Medic.. Are you coming in this weekend?

[PAmedic]

yes sir- bringing Mrs 2b along to give you guys something to talk about as well! will only be down for 1 nite- gotta head back up here Sat.

[flamesfan710]

pamedic said:

flamesfan710 said:

WHen we had open dorms here at LU just before break I swung by her suite but she wasn't there (she appreciated the thought).

oh I bet. She was probably hiding in the ladies bathroom the whole time, waiting for the "all clear" signal. ;D

I apprecaite the attempt at humor...but when I dropped by I found out she was at home for her dad's funeral. You really should think about these things my friend...(I only say that because its something Im working on in myself)

[flamesfan710]

Liberty up 30-24 at the half

[Stevev]

The Frazee's are taking over the game. Molly getting into it now. Up by 12 with 11 minutes remaining.

[flamesfan710]

Liberty wins 70-63 (Loyola hit a 3 at the buzzer for the final margin)

[Sly Fox]

Chalk up another victory. As we keep posting these, we'll be fine come Selection Sunday.

[Stevev]

I thought that Loyola was a pretty descent team. Great shooters and very aggressive. Big rebounding advantage was the key. Was surprised by how many turnovers we had (27). Made some key baskets down the stretch when Loyola turned up the heat but we didn't give them a chance to come back. Very impressed with Megan as usual and with Molly stepping it up. Fasnacht and Nigabatsu played very well also.

[PAmedic]

LU women win third straight

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
January 11, 2006

The shots were coming too easily for Loyola (Md.) Tuesday night at Vines Center, and when Greyhounds guard Krystle Harrington scored five points in 21 seconds early in the second half to forge Loyola into a tie with Liberty, the Flames knew something had to change on the defensive end.
It was a stark change from the early moments of Liberty's 70-63 women's basketball victory. The Flames open Big South play here Saturday against Charleston Southern, a team Liberty beat by an average of 42.5 points in two meetings last season.

Loyola missed its first seven shots but made 11 of its last 18 first-half field goals. That hot streak continued in the second half. Harrington's second bucket with 15:18 left tied the score at 31, and the Flames looked to be in a dog fight that would last all night.

Quick baskets by Moriah and Megan Frazee put the Flames up 35-31, and Liberty found the defensive intensity that marked the start of the game when the Flames (8-4) held Loyola scoreless for the first 5:46.

Liberty forced three turnovers and two missed shots and pushed the lead to 39-31 when Roli-Ann Nikagbatse stole an inbounds pass and converted a layup.

The Greyhounds (8-5) never seriously threatened again.

"Roli-Ann was a pretty big contributor in that period of time," Liberty coach Carey Green said. "She generated some energy points. When we did that, we got some easier offense."

The key to Liberty's defensive intensity in the opening minutes was focus. Routinely in early possessions, Greyhound players chanted from the bench as the shot clock dipped below 10 seconds before Loyola could get a decent look at a shot.

That forced Loyola to take hurried, ugly shots as Liberty built an early lead. That focus eroded as the Greyhounds gained confidence with made shots and physical defensive play.

But when they needed it, the Flames found that focus again. And it's a big reason why LU will head into its conference opener on a three-game win streak.

Megan Frazee led the Flames with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but she also had seven of the Liberty's 27 turnovers.

"I didn't realize I had that many," Megan said. "I guess I'll have to look at that."

It was a typical night of inside-outside dominance for Frazee, who hit two 3-pointers, posted up Greyhound players for baskets and scored in transition.

"She's a special player," Loyola coach Joe Logan said. "In my opinion, she can be a rookie of the year in the NCAA. She's hard to guard. She's going to cause matchup problems. They run good stuff for her."

[PAmedic]

Balanced Scoring Attack Leads Liberty Past Loyola, 70-63

January 10, 2006 · Lynchburg, Va.

Megan Frazee’s ninth double-double and Liberty’s balanced scoring attack led the Lady Flames to a 70-63 non-conference win over Loyola, Tuesday evening, in the Vines Center.

Liberty (8-4) got off to a quick start, thanks to Megan Frazee (Fr., G/F, Xenia, Ohio), as she accounted for five of the Lady Flames’ first seven points to put the home team up, 7-0, but Loyola (8-5) responded, scoring nine of the next 13 points to cut the lead to two, 11-9.

Both team traded baskets over the next seven minutes until the Greyhounds’ Lauren Troupe connected on a jumper to bring Loyola to within one, 23-22.

However, that would be the visitors last bucket until 23 seconds left to go in the first half as Liberty’s defense stifled the Greyhounds and took a 30-24 lead into the half.

A 7-1 run coming out of halftime by Loyola tied things up at 31 apiece, but the Lady Flames’ 10-0 run over the next four minutes gave the home team a 41-31 advantage with 11:39 to go.

Krystle Harrington finally broke the drought when she made 1-of-2 shots from the line, but Roli-Ann Nikagbatse (So., G/F, Berlin, Germany) made a layup and connected on her free throw to finish off an old fashion three-point play to give Liberty a 12-point cushion, 46-34.

The lead hovered around double-digits over the next five minutes and Egle Smigelskaite’s (So., F, Klaipeda, Lithuania) jumper at the 4:01 mark gave the Lady Flames their largest lead of the game, 14 (62-48).

Loyola showed fight as they battled back and reeled off a 12-6 run to get to within eight (68-60), but that’s as close as the Greyhounds would get, falling to Liberty, 70-63.

Once again the Lady Flames proved to be too much on the boards as they outrebounded Loyola, 47-22. It marked the third-straight game that Liberty has collected 20 or more boards more then its opponent.

For the first time this season, the Lady Flames placed four players in double figures. Megan Frazee led the way with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds for her Big South best eighth double-double. Karolina Piotrkiewicz (Jr., F, Calais, France) just missed out on her third-straight double-double as she collected 14 points and nine rebounds. Nikagbatse and Molly Frazee (Fr., G/F, Xenia, Ohio) both had 10 points apiece, a season-high for Molly, while Allyson Fasnacht (So., G, Salem, Va.) tied a career-high as she dished out eight assists.

Harrington paced the Greyhounds as she recorded 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Troupe followed with 14 points and four assists, while Brittany Dunn was Loyola’s only other double-digit scorer with 11.

Liberty will be back in action this Saturday when they start conference play, seeking its ninth-straight Big South regular season title, when they host the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. in the Vines Center.

[Stevev]

Megan was awesome last night. She played a complete game and can literally do it all. She definately has the potential to be the best ever here at LU as far as all around talent. She can handle the rock, post up, plays D, and plays hard. Yesterday was I think he season high for points with 24.

[PAmedic]

scary considering she's a frosh

[Stevev]

Yes it does. I said the same thing when Katie Feenstra was a freshman. Could say the same thing about Crystal Tharp, Sharon Wilkerson, Elena Kisseleva, and other freshman who have contributed right away.

[Stevev]

So starting this Saturday we start our lame, but improved, Big South schedule. Hopefully we won't look past anyone.

[The U]

Megan's season-high is actually 29 vs. N.C. State ... her best games have come against our best competition (minus UF) ... she's a big game player!

[The U]

I know it's VERY early, but ESPN.com has put out their latest bracketology ... we've finally earned some respect as they are projecting us as a 13 seed this early on with four losses ... what's going to happen when we're 26-4??