Feb. 20, 2004
NORFOLK, VA -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team won its ninth straight and improved to 11-0 at home at the Ted Convocation Center as they swept the season series with Delaware, downing the Fightin' Blue Hens, 70-57, Friday night.
The win improved the Lady Monarchs to 18-6 overall and 13-1 in the CAA, while Delaware, last year's CAA runner-ups, fall to 14-9 overall and 6-8 in league play.
Old Dominion held a slim four point advantage at the half, 31-27, but opened up the second half on a 13-2 tear in the first five minutes of play. With 15:14 remaining, Old Dominion owned a 44-29 lead and the Fightin' Blue Hens would not overcome the double digit deficit. A lay-up by senior guard Max Nhassengo (Maputo, Mozambique) gave the Lady Monarchs it largest lead, a 18-point 57-39 advantage, with 9:29 left in the game. The Fightin' Blue Hens pulled within 10 twice in the closing minutes of play, first with a a 10-2 run with 6:11 on the clock to trail 59-49 and finally with 5:47 remaining off a Tiara Malcom lay-up bringing the score to 61-51.
Although Old Dominion controlled much of the first half, the first few mintues endured five lead changes before a Nhassengo lay-up put the Lady Monarchs up for good, 11-10, with 12:17 left in the half. Senior guard Myriah Spence (Espanola, NM) connected on back-to-back buckets giving Old Dominion a 21-14 edge with 7:20, but Delaware used a 7-2 run to pull within two on a lay-up by Tiffany Young and then proceeded to hit 5-of-7 from the free throw line to trail just 23-21. The Lady Monarchs and Fightin' Blue Hens finished the final three minutes trading buckets for the 31-27 Old Dominion advantage at the half.
Old Dominion's Nhassengo had her fourth 20 + point effort of the season, pouring in a game-high 22 points. The 5-10 senior was also just one off her career mark in assists, dishing out five in the victory. Spence tallied her first career double-double effort of the 2003-04 season with 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. It was Spence's third career double-double and her first double digit point and rebound game since her freshman season. Sophomore Lawona Davis (Port St. Lucie, FL) added in nine points and reset her career high in steals with five.
Delaware had three in double figure led by leading scorer Tiara Malcom with 16, which including a 6-of-8 effort from the free throw line. Senior Tracey Howell added in her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards, while junior Tiffany Young came off the bench to collect 10. Fightin' Blue Hen Julie Sailer, who led her squad with 16 back in January 11th's loss to Old Dominion back up in Newark, sat out the game with a stress fracture in her foot.
The Lady Monarchs return to action on Sunday when they host Virginia Commonwealth to close out the season series. Tip-off is at 2:00 p.m.