HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Emma Hess drilled a deep 3-pointer with more than a minute left to give Liberty a six-point lead and added a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to secure a 53-48 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday as the Flames claimed the Conference USA Tournament championship and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament.
The top-seeded Flames earned their 18th NCAA Tournament berth and first since 2018 and earned their first Conference USA championship since joining for the 2023-24 season. Liberty earned its 26th win of the season, the second time they have hit that mark in the last 10 years.