Dec. 30, 2005

Final Stats

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Liberty defeated Rhode Island 67-57 in the third and final game of the 2005 State Farm Classic hosted by the University of Florida at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Sophomore Safi Mojidi led Rhode Island (3-7) and all scorers with 23 points, four assists and four steals in 40 minutes of action.

Megan and Moriah Frazee each scored 17 points to lead the Lady Flames in scoring, while Karoline Piotrkiewicz tallied 14 points with 12 rebounds for Liberty (6-4), which claimed second place in the three-team tournament with a 1-1 record. Megan Frazee also collected a game-high 13 rebounds with six assists.

Florida captured the 15th annual State Farm Classic title by going 2-0 in the event.

The Lady Flames scored the first five points to give Liberty an early lead, but the Rams responded as freshman Jessica Magley knocked down a jumper to tie things up at seven.

Both teams swapped points over the next three minutes until the Lady Flames reeled off a 15-4 run as Frazee connected on 1-of-2 free throws to give Liberty its largest lead of the half at 11.

Liberty held Rhode Island without a field goal over a nine-minute period ended by a Mojidi lay-up at the 2:36 mark. The Rams ended the half down by seven, 30-23, their second lowest first-half score of the season.

The Lady Flames opened up the second half to go up by their biggest margin of 18, before the Rams cut into Liberty's lead with a 15-8 run capped off on a jumper by Mia Marcus to get to within 11.

Senior Tanya Rhodes brought the Rams to with in ten scoring the final five points for URI to end the game.

Rhode Island returns to the Ryan Center for a three-game home stand to kick-off Atlantic 10 action against La Salle. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3.