Feb. 15, 2004
WILMINGTON, N.C. (www.UNCWsports.com) - Junior guard Shareese Grant scored 18 points to lead four Monarchs in double digits and senior forward Monique Coker added a double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds as Old Dominion defeated UNC Wilmington 68-59 in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Sunday at Trask Coliseum.
The conference leading Monarchs, winners of their last nine, improve to 17-6 overall and 12-1 in the CAA. The loss, UNCW's second straight, drops the Seahawks to 12-10 and 7-6.
ODU senior guards Myriah Spence and Max Nhassengo poured in 17 and 14 points, respectively. Spence scored 13 of her final total in the second half, while Nhassengo led the Monarchs with 12 first half points.
Senior guard Jennifer Kapper held game-high honors with 19 points for the Seahawks, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Fellow senior backcourt mate Cherie Lea had 18 points and 10 rebounds for her second double double of the season.
UNCW junior forward Tanika Harrison's layup cut ODU's lead to 30-29 early in the second half, but Old Dominion responded with a 9-0 run to take a 39-29 lead it would never surrender. Spence keyed the run with five points and Coker capped the run with a trey at 16:15.
Trailing, 45-34, the Seahawks cut their deficit to three, 49-46 with 4:44 remaining, as Tracy Morgan fueled a 12-4 run with seven consecutive points. Morgan drained a 3-pointer at 9:20 and then back-to-back layups at 8:03 and 7:25.
The Monarchs closed the game in fine fashion knocking down nine of their 10 free throw attempts in the final 47 seconds of the game.
Old Dominion held a 30-27 advantage at halftime by forcing 12 Seahawk turnovers. Nhassengo's jumper with 1:27 left in the half gave the Monarchs their biggest lead half, 30-25. Nhassengo scored led ODU with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
The Seahawks return to action Feb 20th at William & Mary with a 7 p.m. tipoff. ODU, meanwhile, hosts Delaware at 7 p.m., also on Feb. 20th, in the first of a three-game homestand.