Feb. 14, 2003
NEWARK, DE - Senior guard Carrie Timmins (New Oxford, PA) dropped in a career-high 14 points and the University of Delaware connected on 21 of 22 free throws, including its final 18, to down Old Dominion (11-10, 8-3) for the first time ever with a 58-50 Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball victory Friday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.
The Blue Hens (15-6, 10-2), who won their third straight game and defeated the Monarchs for the first time in four meetings, overcame a record-low 19 rebounds en route to handing the Lady Monarchs their third consecutive conference loss. The last time Old Dominion dropped three straight conference games was during its inaugural season in the CAA in 1991-1992.
"Old Dominion is such a great team," said Delaware head coach Tina Martin. "We felt really comfortable playing them on our home court. We were very focused and knocked down our free throws. For the next seven to eight hours, we're going to enjoy this. It's going to be hard to sleep tonight."
Delaware set a school single game record by hitting on 95.5 percent of its free throws, surpassing the mark of .947 (18 for 19) vs. Morgan State Feb. 22, 1974. The Hens also took advantage of 29 turnovers and 32.7 percent shooting by the Monarchs to post the win and remain in first place in the CAA standings. Delaware is the first team other than ODU to be in first place in the league standings this late in the season since the 1991-92 season.
Sophomore Julie Sailer (Washington Crossing, PA) scored 14 points for the Blue Hens while senior guard Allison Trapp (Philadelphia, PA) notched 10 points and four assists and sophomore forward Tiara Malcom posted six points and four rebounds. The trio helped Delaware shoot 52.9 percent from the field (18 of 34).
Monique Coker led the Lady Monarchs with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Shareese Grant had 14 points and Okeisha Howard scored 12 before fouling out with 2:18 remaining.
"To win on the road in this league, you have to take care of the ball and make your free throws,' said Old Dominion head coach Wendy Larry, whose team had won 148 of 149 league games since 1991-92 before the current three-game losing streak. "We turned the ball over way too many times tonight. Delaware finished on the free throw line tonight and that was the difference."
Old Dominion took an early 7-2 lead before Delaware went on a 21-11 run to close the half, led by eight points by Timmins. The Blue Hens then opened up a 42-33 lead with 7:51 left in the second half on the strength of seven points from Sailer. The Lady Monarchs got to within four at 54-50 with under a minute left, but Trapp scored on a jumper and a layup to put the game away.
The Lady Monarchs return to action on Sunday when they take on the Hofstra Pride at 1:00 p.m.