Dec. 20, 2006
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee State used a late second half run to earn a 87-71 victory over the Lady Monarchs Tuesday night at the Murphy Center.
Old Dominion drops its second straight contest falling to 3-6 overall, while Middle Tennessee improves to 9-3 overall.
The Lady Monarchs were led by starting point guard Jazzmin Walters (Norfolk, Va.) with a career-high 13 points along with four steals and three assists. Both juniors Shahida Williams (Newark, N.J.) and T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.) added in 12.
The Blue Raiders had a trio in double figures led by Amber Holt with a game-high 27. Krystle Horton had 23 points and Chrissy Given poured in 17 along with a game-high six assists.
The Blue Raiders were able to capitalize on 29 Old Dominion turnovers resutling in 39 points for the opposing team.
In the first half, neither team managed more than a four point lead and endured seven ties. Middle Tennessee only held a one-point lead, 39-28, at intermission.
The ODU defense was able to keep the Blue Raiders to just 32.4 percent shooting in the first half, but the second half saw Middle Tennesse shot a blistering 60.9 percent. Middle Tennessee quickly established a seven point lead the first minute into the second half, but the Lady Monarchs fought back. By the 14:18 mark of half number two, Old Dominion managed to tie the game at 51-51. Following a Horton bucket, the Lady Monarchs responded with a three by Jordan and took back the lead, 54-53.
During the next three minutes the game would endure four lead changes and Old Dominion would see its last lead at the 8:09 mark. Williams converted the traditional three-point play for a 62-60 Old Dominion advantage.
MTSU's Jackie Pickel sparked a Blue Raider 15-3 run with back-to-back three-pointers to return the lead back to Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders had a 10-point, 75-65, edge with 2:58 remaining.
The Lady Monarchs fought back to within six with a minute and a half to go, but were charged with an intentional foul giving the Blue Raiders two free throws and possession of the ball. Middle Tennessee scored its final nine points from the line.
Old Dominion held a 37-31 advantage on the boards led by junior Tay Ransburg (Kansas City, Mo.) with seven.
The Lady Monarchs had one of its best performance from the field and the line against the Blue Raiders. Old Dominion ended the evening hitting 48.1 percent from the floor and 72.2 from the charity stripe.
Old Dominion returns home to host #5 (AP-ESPN/USA Today) Tennessee at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 22nd. The game will be aired nationally on ESPNU.