WBB vs Liberty 2020

There may be basketball on Nov 28 even though the men are not playing Temple. The Ladies are currently scheduled to play Liberty at Cassell on Sat at 2PM. The game will be available on ACCNx, if you get that. The Hokies played a surprisingly close game(73-69) against Liberty last year, in which Liberty was the more physical team and the refs let them bang around underneath. After the game, I commented that Kitley needed to get stronger and work on holding onto the ball. Since she was ACC Freshman of the year, I think we can say she got better at banging with the bigs underneath; or more likely I just did not see her greatness.

Both teams have played one game. The Hokies cruised against Radford and Liberty lost to Ohio U, 76-72. Liberty led that game until the third quarter. Rettstatt fouled out; in 21 minutes, she got 3 rebounds, 13 points and 5 assists. The other F/C, Mya Berkman, Jr 6'3, got 10 points, and 8 rebounds in 21 minutes. They also play a true Freshman 6'5 Bella Smuda. The rest of their roster is guards. Makaela Kestner, a transfer from UCF is 5'11 RSoph, scored 3 points in 12 minutes. Emily Lytle, another 5'11 G/F, RSr, scored 21 points on 5 of 10 from 3. The other double digit scorer was Ashtyn Baker, 5'6 Sr. who scored 10 points shooting 25% overall and 14% from 3.

Pictures and roster below:

Rettstatt, No 34

Kestner, No 11

Baker, No 12

Lytle No 23

Berkman, No 20

I think our bigs, Kitley and Jones, are better than their bigs and both look like they can bang underneath if the refs let them play the rough style Liberty seems to prefer. Liberty shot only 38.7% from the field and 38.7% from 3. Rettstatt, Lytle and Lindstrom seem to be the threats from outside. I don't know that Liberty has an answer to Kitley and Jones. If they try to play Rettstatt and Berkman together to match up, they have only true freshman, Smuda, to provide backup minutes or relief for foul issues. Liberty tied a team record for made 3's against Ohio and then got cold when the defense did not have to collapse on Rettstatt. The Hokies defense should be able to provide enough pressure around the arc to affect their 3 point shooting.

I'll leave the final score guesstimate to someone else; but I don't think the Hokies will have any trouble with Liberty this year.

Go Hokies!