Nov. 27, 2004
NORFOLK, Va. --- The Old Dominion women's basketball team, behind a game-high 22 points from senior guard Shareese Grant (Va. Beach, Va.), earned its first victory of the season with a 87-56 win over Virginia Tech in front of 3,480 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The 31-point defeat was the biggest loss for the Hokies since a 42-77 setback to then top ranked Connecticut back on February 10th, 2002.
Old Dominion improved to 1-1 with the victory, while Virginia Tech fell to 2-2 on the young season.
The Lady Monarchs led the entire way and held a 44-27 advantage at the half. Nineteen of Grant's game-high 22 points came in the first half.
"She attacked. She was relentless," said Lady Monarch head coach Wendy Larry on Grant's performance. "When we have that type of leadership by example, people get ignited by her energy."
Tech trailed 20-19 with 7:08 left in the half, but from there, Old Dominion took a 20-8 run over the next four minutes. After rookie T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.) netted one of two free throws with 4:41 on the clock putting ODU up 28-18, the Lady Monarchs held a double figure advantage the rest of the way.
Halfway through the second-half, the Lady Monarchs were enjoying a 20-point lead. Sophomore Megan Pym (Newfield, N.Y.) converted a jumper with 9:57 left in the game to give Old Dominion the 64-44 edge. The Hokies were held scoreless for the final 4:28 of the game as the Lady Monarchs took advantage scoring 12 unanswered points to close the game.
Sophomore Sherida Triggs (Norcross, Ga.) was a monster on the boards collecting a career-high 17 rebounds resetting her previous high set back in the second game of the 2003-04 season with nine against a ranked Colorado squad. The game also marked Triggs' first career double-double as she was one of three Lady Monarchs in double figures with 12.
Junior Lawona Davis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) was the other Lady Monarch in double figures with 13.
Virginia Tech had just one player in double figures as Dawn Chriss shot 6-of-12 from the field for 12 points. Erin Gibson led the Hokies on the boards with seven.
The Lady Monarchs shot just shy of 50 percent from the field ending the afternoon hitting 38-of-77 from the floor. Old Dominion held to Hokies to 33.3 percent from the field (21-of-63).
The Lady Monarchs will return to action on Tuesday, November 30th when they host East Tennessee State at 7:00 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The game will mark the first ever meeting between the Buccaneers and the Lady Monarchs.