Dec. 18, 2005
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Old Dominion women's basketball team returned to the win column on Sunday after with a 79-69 victory over the Charlotte 49ers at Halton Arena.
The Lady Monarchs led the entire way and despite the 49ers pulling to within four points with 3:05 remaining, were able to keep their composure down the stretch for the 10-point victory.
Old Dominion opened the game to lead 21-8 with 9:04 left in the first half. During that opening stretch, the Lady Monarchs managed to keep Charlotte without a field goal for 8:23. After junior Tish Lyons (Newport News, Va.) sunk two free throws to give Old Dominion a 23-11 with 7:35 on the clock, the 49ers used an 8-0 run, fueled by five consecutive points from Tyhiesha Smith, to pull within four. Leading 23-19, the Lady Monarchs bumped their lead back up to double digits on two more occasions and entered the locker room up, 23-31.
Charlotte opened half number two on a 9-2 run and dropped Old Dominion's advantage to two, 33-31, as 16:38 showed on the clock. Two more times the 49ers would pull to within two of tying the game, but each time the Lady Monarchs responded and held on the lead.
A Lawona Davis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) jumper helped the Lady Monarchs establish an 11-point edge with 6:32 remaining as Old Dominion led, 62-51. Charlotte, however, used another run, this time a 7-0 run, to cut their deficit to four, 58-62, with just over five minutes remaining.
The Old Dominion defense would only allow two more field goals in the game's final five minutes. Charlotte covered the remaining margin with four free throws while the Lady Monarchs racked up 14 points during that span.
Lyons paced the Lady Monarchs by tying her season-high 16 points to lead four of her teammates in double figures. She shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Both sophomore T.J Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.) and Davis poured in 14 points apiece. Jordan, who saw some time at the point due to injury to Jen Nuzzo (Newport News, Va.), saw all 14 of her points come in the second half. Junior Sherida Triggs (Norcross, Ga.) added in 13.
Old Dominion outrebounded Charlotte, 53-35, with the Lady Monarchs' defensive effort equaling the 49ers total number of boards. Triggs was one of three Lady Monarchs to lead the rebounding corps with seven boards. Davis and sophomore Shahida Williams (Newark, N.J.) also grabbed seven.
Williams, who made her first appearance of the 2005-06 season, returning to the active roster for the Charlotte game, also had six points and three steals.
The 49ers had three in double figures, including two with double-double performances. Pam Brown had a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrea Davis had 10 points and 10 rebounds as well. Sakellie Daniels added in 11 points along with five assists.
The Lady Monarchs close out a three-game road swing on Wednesday when they travel to Florida International in Miami, Florida. Panther co-head coaches Nancy Russo and Inge Nissen are ODU alums.