RICHMOND, Va. (Mar. 11)(AP) - Make it an NCAA-record nine consecutive flawless years for Old Dominion in the women's Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
The No. 14 Lady Monarchs used one of their trademark defense-driven first-half runs to take control against North Carolina-Wilmington in the CAA championship March 11, and their 92-49 victory was their ninth in nine years.
The victory was Old Dominion's 102nd in a row against CAA competition, and allowed them to break the Texas women's mark of eight consecutive conference tournament titles. The Lady Longhorns did it in the Southwest Conference from 1983-90.
As they so often do, the Lady Monarchs (27-4) ended the suspense early, hitting 12 of 13 shots in a 27-2 run that turned a 13-10 deficit into a 37-15 lead. Four Lady Monarchs hit 3-pointers in the blitz that ended with 5:30 left.
The Lady Seahawks (18-12), making the first appearance in the championship in program history, missed 9 of 10 shots in the run and had five turnovers.
The victory was Old Dominion's 13th in a row this season and 27th in as many CAA tournament games since the Lady Monarchs all but took over the league.
It also was their eighth straight since two-time CAA player of the year Lucienne Berthieu was sidelined with a sprained right shoulder. Berthieu should begin practicing this week, in time for the start of the NCAA tournament next weekend.
In her absence, Old Dominion again spread the scoring around among its eight healthy players, getting double-figure contributions from five. Okeisha Howard led the way with 26 points, including six 3-pointers in as many attempts.
Hamchetou Maiga added 20 points and eight rebounds, Sharron Francis had 11 points and Natalie Diaz had seven points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Old Dominion shot 51.7 percent overall, including 10-for-13 on 3-pointers, or 76.9 percent. It outrebounded the Lady Seahawks 43-29 and had 16 steals.
The point total set a record for the CAA, eclipsing the 88 points Richmond scored in the 1990-91 game, the year before the Lady Monarchs joined the league.
The third-seeded Lady Seahawks, who had lost 11 straight CAA tournament games before this season, were led by Krissy Riggs with 16 points and Chandra Watkins with 11. Wilmington shot just 32.7 percent, making 16 of 49 from the field.