Feb. 1, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team suffered its third straight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) loss with a 58-51 setback to VCU on Sunday afternoon at the Siegel Center. Senior Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.) led the Lady Monarchs with her ninth double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 boards. Sophomore Jasmine Parker (Norfolk, Va.) added in 12 points.
The loss drops Old Dominion to 11-8 overall and 6-3 in the CAA. Its just the third time since joining the league in 1991-92 the Lady Monarchs have suffered three consecutive CAA losses. Old Dominion fell to VCU, James Madison, and Delaware in a row in 2002-03 and James Madison, Richmond, and East Carolina in its first season in the league in 1991-92.
VCU meanwhile improved to 17-4 overall and 7-2 in the CAA, winning its 14th straight home game at the Siegel Center. The Rams are tied along with Drexel and James Madison atop the CAA standings.
Old Dominion, who committed a season-high 28 turnovers at Georgia State on Thursday, turned the ball over 25 times against the Rams. VCU was able to score 21 points off the Lady Monarchs' miscues.
VCU took a 4-0 lead to open the game, but it would be another 12 minutes before the Rams would make another field goal. The Lady Monarchs meanwhile went on a 15-2 run, holding VCU at one point without a point for a three and half minute span. Hollingsworth stopped VCU's drought from the field with a traditional three-point play at the 5:52 mark as the Rams closed out the half outscoring the Lady Monarchs 15-6. All six of ODU's points over the final six minutes of the opening stanza came from the hands of leading scorer Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.). The Lady Monarchs trailed 25-21 at the intermission with junior Jessica Canady (Williamsburg, Va.) having already hauled in 10 of her 12 rebounds of the afternoon.
The second half was neck and neck much of the way. VCU established a five point, 33-28 lead, five minutes into the half, but Old Dominion managed to erase it by continually chipping away at the Ram advantage. The Lady Monarchs regained the lead at the seven minute mark leading 43-40.
The Rams' Kita Waller sunk a three on the following play to tie the game for the fourth time at 43 all with 6:16 remaining and Hollingsworth sank four straight free throws to give VCU the lead for good.
Twice Old Dominion was within striking distance of retaking the lead. Following Hollingsworth's free throws, Parker converted the traditional three-point play pulling the Lady Monarchs to within one, 47-46, with 4:47 on the clock. Then after D'Andra Moss and Hollingsworth scored a pair of back-to-back layups for a five-point VCU lead, Green hit a pair from the charity stripe pulling ODU to within three, 48-51, with 2:11 remaining.
Down the stretch, however, VCU went 7-of-8 from the line and the Rams defense only allowed Green to break through for one last lay-up. Green was fouled on the play and made the traditional three-point play for the Lady Monarchs' final points of the afternoon. Green, who at times has struggled at the line, finished 5-of-5 on the afternoon.
VCU finished the game with four in double figures with Quanitra Hollingsworth leading her squad with 21. Moss netted 12, Radoslava Bachvarova added in 11, and La'Tavia Rorie contributed 10 points in the win.
Junior Jessica Canady (Williamsburg, Va.) joined Green in leading the Lady Monarchs on the board. Canady hauled in 12 boards despite a taped thumb as Old Dominion outboarded VCU, 42-40.
The Old Dominion women's basketball team returns home next week. The Lady Monarchs close out the season series with Northeastern on Thursday, February 5th and UNC-Wilmington on Sunday, February 8th at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.