Jan. 4, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team started off the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) schedule with a 81-70 victory over the Virginia Commonwealth Rams Thursday night at the Siegel Center. The win marked the 16th consecutive CAA opening victory for the Lady Monarchs since joining the league in the 1991-92 season.
The win, Old Dominion's second straight, ups the Lady Monarchs mark to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in the CAA, while the Rams fall to 7-5 overall and still looking to pick up its first conference victory dropping to 0-2 in the CAA. The victory also marked the Lady Monarchs first road win of the season.
At the half, the Lady Monarchs enjoyed a 40-28 lead. Ahead, 29-24 with 3:45 remaining, T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.) hit back-to-back three's to give Old Dominion its first double figure lead of the game. Jordan collected 18 of her season-high 25 points in the first half all on three pointers. The junior guard took six in the first half alone en-route to a seven total. The Rams were held to just one field goals over the half's final five minutes.
The Rams scored the second half's first six points. Quanitra Hollingsworth converted the traditional three-point play to cut the VCU deficit to six, 40-34, but that would be the closed Virginia Commonwealth would get.
The 81 points scored by the Lady Monarchs are the highest output by the team this season.
Jordan finished the night as one of three Lady Monarchs in double figures. Her seven three-pointers tied a career mark, which she also achieved at Delaware (2/11/05) and at George Mason (2/10/06). Senior Tish Lyons (Newport News, Va.) added a season-high 14 points and dished out a career record six assists. Sophomore Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.) added in 10.
The Rams were led by Hollingsworth with 22 points and nine rebounds. Krystal Vaughn netted 21 and grabbed nine boards as well in the loss.
The Old Dominion bench outscored the VCU bench, 32-7.
The Lady Monarchs return to action on Sunday, January 7th when they host Drexel in their CAA opener. A ring ceremony for last year's 15th straight CAA title team and the addition of the 2006 team to the CAA banner will be spotlighted prior to tip with the Dragons.