Feb. 11, 2007
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team moved into second place in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) race as they handed the University of Delaware a 63-47 loss on Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Delaware, who entered the game winners in 10 of their last 11, had a four-game win streak snapped as they fall to 20-4 overall and 11-2 in the CAA. The 47 points were the fewest the Blue Hens have scored all season and the fewest since netting only 41 in a 41-55 setback at UNC-Wilmington back on January 6th. Additionally it was Delaware's largest loss since a 27-point setback at James Madison, 57-84, back on February 1, 2004.
Old Dominion meanwhile upped its overall mark to 15-8 overall and 11-1 in the league. The victory was ODU's third straight win after suffering its only conference loss of the season at James Madison.
Senior Sherida Triggs (Norcross, Ga.) collected her second double-double of the year and 11th of her career with a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds. Triggs was one of four Lady Monarchs in double figures along with 11 from T.J. Jordan (Portsmouth, Va.), and 10 from both Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.) and Tay Ransburg (Kansas City, Mo.).
Delaware was led by leading scorer Tyresa Smith with a game-high 25 points. Smith, a preseason first team selection and 2006 CAA Defender of the Year, shot 7-of-23 from the floor and went 11-of-14 from the line. Chrissy Fisher was the only other Blue Hen in double figures with 14.
Old Dominion had a balanced attack as they outscored the Delaware bench, 21-4. All four points came from Courtney Irving, who also hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
The Lady Monarchs had their best performance from the line all season shooting 91.7 percent (11-of-12) from the stripe. Green, who at times has struggled from the line, went a perfect 4-of-4 as one of three Lady Monarchs to go perfect at the charity stripe.
Old Dominion broke open the game midway through the first half. Ahead by one, 19-18, with 9:04 left until intermission, the Lady Monarch defense would hold the Blue Hens without a field goal the rest of the half. Delaware was held to just four points from the line as Old Dominion entered the half up 28-22.
The Lady Monarchs would not allow the Blue Hens any closer than five points in the second half. A three-pointer by Fisher close the gap to 39-34 with 14:05 left in the game, but that would be the last points Delaware would see over the next six and half minutes. Old Dominion proceeded to take a 13-0 run and watch its lead go into double figures and remain there the rest of the game.
Smith was able to break drought at the 6:01 mark hitting one of two free throws, but the Blue Hens would not see its first field goal since the ODU run began until 4:58 remained in the game thanks to an Irving lay-up. Six of the Blue Hens' final eight points of the game came from the line.
Ransburg managed to give the Lady Monarchs its largest lead of the afternoon, a 23-point 63-40 advantage, with 2:14 left.
Only six games remain in the 2006-07 season with four of those six contests at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Next week, Old Dominon hosts Towson on Thursday, February 15th at 7:00 p.m. and travels to William & Mary on Sunday, February 18th for a 2:00 p.m. tip.