Nov. 23, 2005
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Senior Lawona Davis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) notched her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.) came off the bench for a game-high 18 to spearhead a late Lady Monarch rally as Old Dominion came up just short of the comeback in a 76-69 loss to Virginia Tech. Trailing by as many as 12 in the second half, Old Dominion was able to close to within three in the closing minutes.
With 7:03 remaining in the game and trailing 66-54 Jordan drained back-to-back three-pointers to spark an 8-0 Lady Monarch run. Holding the Hokies scoreless for two and half minutes, Old Dominion was able to cut its deficit to four to trail 66-62 as the clock showed 4:37 to go.
Tech's Kerri Gardin stopped the Hokie drought hitting the first of her two shot award, but missed the second attempt. Virginia Tech came up with the offensive rebound but a Hokie turnover and steal by sophomore Jen Nuzzo (Newport News, Va.) gave possession back to the Lady Monarchs. Junior Paula Muxiri (Luanda, Angola) hit the jumper to pull the Lady Monarchs to within its closest reach of taking over the lead since the opening minutes of the half. The Lady Monarchs trailed by three, 67-64, with 3:22 left.
On the ensuing possession, Tech had three chances at a bucket and on the fourth straight offensive rebound, Dawn Chriss grabbed the ball for the put-back. A costly Lady Monarchs turnover gave Gardin an open lay-up and put the Hokies back up by seven with 1:28 to go.
Jordan's fourth three-pointer of the night got the Lady Monarchs to within four, 71-67, and Old Dominion was forced to foul down the stretch. Virginia Tech went to the line but only managed to hit two of their four attempts. Jordan hit a bucket and was fouled forcing to her to go the line with only 42 seconds remaining and the Lady Monarchs down by four, 73-69. Jordan missed but the Lady Monarchs were able to come away with the rebound. Two attempts from downtown, one by Jordan and another by freshman Jazzmin Walters (Norfolk, Va.), were unable to find their mark. Tech hit three more free throws in the closing seconds for the final margin.
Old Dominion's second half rally was not the only one of the game. The Lady Monarchs overcame a 13-point deficit with 3:25 remaining in the first half to close on a 13-4 run and enter the locker room down only, 39-35.
Davis scored nine of her 11 points in the second half. Typically known for driving to the basket, she opened the second half draining back-to-back threes.
Jordan shot both 50 percent from the floor and from beyond the arc. She shot 6-for-12 from the field and 4-for-8 from downtown.
Two other Lady Monarchs joined Davis and Jordan in double figures. Junior Paula Muxiri in her first career start poured in 11, as did junior Sherida Triggs (Norcross, Ga.). Triggs was one rebound shy of having her second straight double-double against the Hokies as she finished the night with nine.
The Lady Monarchs have a week to rest before returning to action. Old Dominion will host Penn State on Tuesday, November 29th. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on Comcast Sportsnet.