Lady FLames Basketball Sweeps Jacksonville in Coach Green’s Return

Sidelined due to both COVID-19 and a leg injury, Liberty Head Coach Carey Green was finally reunited with his players on the court Saturday and Sunday for an ASUN conference doubleheader against Jacksonville. 

Thirteen days after their last game, the Lady Flames (11-3, 7-0 ASUN) hosted the Jacksonville Dolphins (2-9, 0-6 ASUN) Jan. 30 in the new Liberty Arena. Although the Lady Flames defeated the Dolphins 78-46 and led the entire game, this win did not come without some adversity.

In basketball, it’s common to see a player on crutches due to an injury, but a coach managing his team from a wheelchair is a rarity. After suffering a leg injury in early January, this became reality for Green, but this obstacle did not hinder him from leading his team to victory.

“The game is still the game. I’m still yelling and screaming,” Green said. “It’s just good to get back and work with these young ladies and play this game that they love.”

Even with the long time away from the court, the Lady Flames did not miss a beat, with  strong bench performances showing the depth of the team this year. Impressive play by freshman Bella Smuda and Michigan transfer Priscilla Smeenage led to the Lady Flames bench outscoring the Dolphins bench by 26 points.

“They’ve been working very hard and it really starts in practice,” redshirt senior Emily Lytle said. “They push us to be better and we push them to be better and I really admire that about them.”

Throughout this season, the Lady Flames have demonstrated how easy it is to share the ball when equipped with a talented roster. The team averages 17.4 assists a game, and against the Dolphins they even surpassed that average, recording 19 assists to their opponents’ six. 

Green’s aggressive coaching style, aiming to force turnovers and break down the court, paid off as the game went on, with Liberty scoring 23 points off 18 turnovers.  

“One of the things Coach Green and Coach Sherard (associate head coach) really (emphasize) is getting stops, and we were able to do that by packing the paint,” Smeenage said. “That allowed our defense to really dominate.”

Before the second game, Green discussed the adaptability required for a doubleheader. 

“We did not play all of our cards today, meaning we still have five different sets, three different offensive sets, and you didn’t see them all tonight,” Green said. 

The Lady Flames completed their doubleheader against the Dolphins Jan. 31, winning 72-58 in convincing fashion to further cement their place at the top of the ASUN. 

Liberty will play its next games against North Florida away Feb. 6 and 7. 

Emmanuel Adamson is a Social Media Manager. Follow him on Twitter at @Eadamson12.