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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – No. 5 Liberty (18-12, 11-7 CUSA) advances to the semifinal round, taking down No. 4 Sam Houston (18-12, 11-7 CUSA) 89-57 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Air National Guard CUSA Championship Thursday afternoon at Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center.
 
The Lady Flames forced a Bearkat team that ranks fifth in the nation in turnovers forced (25.45) to 16 turnovers, while also outrebounding Sam Houston 40-30. Ify Nwaobi had a record setting day tallying a career-high 22 points, shooting 8-9 from the floor and a perfect 5-5 from downtown. She shot 88.9 percent from the floor, tying for the second-best field goal percentage in a CUSA tournament game. Avery Mills posted 20 points, scoring 15 in the second half. Liberty knocked down 12 three-pointers, which tied for third-most three-pointers in a conference tournament game.  
 
Sam Houston was led by Whitney Dunn with 20 points and six rebounds.
 
The Lady Flames will face off against the No. 1 seeded Lady Techsters at 5:30 p.m. CT Friday on ESPN+.
 
Liberty Head Coach Alexis Sherard
Opening Statement…
“First of all, just want to tip my hat to Ravon [Justice] and her Sam Houston basketball team. We beat a very good Sam Houston team. Ravon does a great job with her team. Overall, I’m very pleased with our team and how we handled the basketball and handled the pressure. We just came into this game really focused on taking care of the basketball and winning the rebounding war. It’s a very good win for our program and I’m very proud of our team.”
 
Liberty Guard Avery Mills
On faith in the team while sitting out in foul trouble…
“I have so much faith in them. I love this team. I love these girls. Obviously, I love being in with them and playing with my girls, but I also love cheering for them on the bench. Seeing things that maybe they can work on and helping them with that. I love going crazy for Ify [Nwaobi] hitting five threes in the first half, so, yes, I have so much faith in them, and, you know, we're a championship team, you know, not just one or two or three players. It’s all of us.”
 
 
Sam Houston Head Coach Ravon Justice
Opening Statement…
“First off, thank everybody for being here. You know, the game definitely, we didn't get the outcome that we expected today. I'm extremely still proud of my team. They've overcome a lot this year. You never want to end. But unfortunately, we are here today, in that situation. These kids have played hard all year. They've battled. They've overcome a lot, so extremely proud of them.”
 
On third-quarter resurgence…
“I just thought that, you know, we dug a hole early. We didn't defend how we usually defend. We dropped some defensive assignments early in the first and the second, and so the third quarter was just us being who we really are, our true identity of defending and scoring the basketball. Unfortunately, we weren't able to display that for four quarters, but, you know, that's something these young ladies have been able to do all year.”