Liberty’s defense set the tone for its season-opening victory over Winston-Salem State on Friday evening, keeping the Lady Rams off the scoreboard for the first 8:44 of play. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Devon Brown took care of things on the offensive end, exploding for 26 points in the Lady Flames’ 71-26 win at the Vines Center.
Liberty, which converted 32 Winston-Salem State turnovers into 35 points, opens its season with a win for the sixth time in the last eight years.
Winston-Salem State, limited to 26.2 percent field goal shooting, begins the year at 0-1.
Brown scored the first seven points of her collegiate career during a game-opening 13-0 run by the Lady Flames. The Rams finally found their range and scored six of the game’s next seven points, trimming the deficit to 14-6 on Jillian Charlet’s layup at the 6:38 in the first half.
But Winston-Salem State managed only six points for the remainder of the period, while Liberty’s lead ballooned to 18. Brown sent the Lady Flames into halftime with a 30-12 advantage, swishing back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute.
Liberty made 16 of 29 field goals (55.2 percent) after the break, lifting its final field goal percentage to 47.4. The Rams made only five second-half field goals and ended the game shooting 26.2 percent. The Lady Flames also won the rebounding battle, 39-25.
Brown shot 11 of 14 from the field and drained three of her five 3-point attempts for 26 points, the highest scoring output by a Lady Flame in her collegiate debut since Nov. 23, 1996, when Elena Kisseleva racked up 30 points against Bluefield.
Brown also nabbed seven rebounds, tying her with Danika Dale for second most in the game. Warley’s nine caroms paced all players.
Amber Mays totaled a team-high six assists and added four steals for the Lady Flames.
Liberty will remain at home for its second game of the season, a Tuesday contest against UNC Greensboro. The contest, which is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff, will mark the Spartans’ first visit to the Vines Center since the 1997 Big South Championship title game.
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