HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 14) - The Old Dominion Lady Monarch basketball team captured a non-conference victory over Hampton Roads rival Hampton, 93-69, at the Convocation Center on the campus of Hampton Sunday (Jan. 14). With the win, Old Dominion improves to 8-4 overall while Hampton drops to 4-9.
The Lady Monarchs shot 55.4% from the field en route to their fifth straight win. Freshman Monique Coker (Bronx, NY) led the way with two new career bests, a double double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Despite committing 34 turnovers, Old Dominion forced 35 Hampton turnovers for the win.
Old Dominion led for the whole game, but didn't enjoy a double digit lead until the 3:01 mark in the first half. A three-point play by Myriah Spence (Espanola, NM), a lay-up from Okeisha Howard (Virginia Beach, Va.), and two consecutive lay-ups from Coker, the Lady Monarchs opened up a lead that would bulge to 12 by the half.
With some staunch defense and easy breakaway baskets from Howard and Sharron Francis (West Lanham Hills, Md.), Old Dominion opened a 19 point lead to open the second half. In the final two minutes of play, the Lady Monarchs went on a 7-0 run to close the game with a 24-point victory.
Howard led all scorers with a career high 28 points while Coker followed with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Senior swing player Hamchetou Maiga (Bamako, Mali) added 12 points in the win.
Old Dominion travels to top-ranked Connecticut for a Thursday evening game. The Lady Monarchs return to the Fieldhouse Wednesday, January 24 in a 7:35 pm contest against Virginia Commonwealth.