Jan. 7, 2006
RICHMOND, VA-- After finishing women's college basketball's toughest non-conference schedule, the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs opened up CAA play with an 82-62 victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Friday night at the Siegel Center. The Lady Monarchs ended a three-game losing streak, and improved to 3-7 (1-0) on the season while the Rams dropped their record to 7-4 (0-2). Junior forward Tish Lyons led all scorers with 18 points. Sophomore guard T.J. Jordan added 15 points in 32 minutes of action.
ODU would never trail in this contest, racing out to an early 5-0 lead off a Jordan three-pointer and Sherida Triggs basket. That lead would soon swell to 22-10 with 8:12 left in the half after yet another Jordan trey. A jumper by VCU's Vera Chistova would get the Rams within six with 4:38 remaining in the first session, 24-18. However, that would be as close as Virginia Commonwealth would get on this night.
An 11-0 run by Old Dominion early in the second half would put the score at 54-29 with 14:39 left in regulation. The run featured five different Lady Monarchs getting baskets.
For the game, ODU shot 48.5% from the floor, and drained 43.8% of their three-point attempts (7-16). All five of Jordan's baskets were treys. ODU also outrebounded VCU 36-30, dished out 20 assists to the Lady Rams 7, and won the turnover battle 18-28.
ODU also got solid production from their bench, with the substitutes chipping in 29 points altogether off of 11-19 shooting from the floor. Junior forward Paula Muxuri came off the bench to score 10 points and earn a career-high 7 rebounds. Freshman point guard Jazzmin Walters chipped in with nine points and five assists, while sophomore forward Megan Pym scored six points off 3-3 shooting, and pulled down six rebounds.
Virginia Commonwealth's Stephanie Merlo shot 3-5 from three-point land and led her team with 13 points. Guards Vera Chistova and LaKea Jones added 12 points apiece.
The Lady Monarchs continue their pursuit of a 15th consecutive CAA championship when they travel to take on conference rival William & Mary on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Williamsburg.