March 1, 2009
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- The Old Dominion Lady Monarchs suffered a 73-57 setback to James Madison on Sunday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center. ODU however will be the fourth seed at the upcoming 2009 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament following Hofstra's loss to UNC-Wilmington on Sunday as well.
The loss drops Old Dominion to 15-12 overall and 10-7 in the CAA. The Dukes, meanwhile sweep the season series with the Lady Monarchs to inprove to 20-8 overall and 13-4 in the conference. It is just the third time Old Dominion has been swept by an opponent in the regular season with Delaware accomplishing the task in 2005 and Richmond in 1992. It was also ODU's sixth straight loss on the road.
Sophomore Shadasia Green (Patterson, N.J.) and senior Tiffany Green (Chesapeake, Va.) both led the Lady Monarchs with 13 points. Shadasia Green collected her second career double-double by also hauling in 10 rebounds.
James Madison's Dawn Evans, who exploded for a Constant Center record 36 points in the first meeting between the two teams, netted 16 as one of four Dukes in double figures. Evans recorded her 1,000 career point against the Lady Monarchs, becoming the fastest women's basketball player in CAA history to reach the mark. Courtney Hamner came off the bench for 12 points, with Sarah Williams netting 11 and Kisha Stokes adding 10 points along with 14 rebounds.
The game was neck and neck throughout the first half with Old Dominion holding on to a two-point edge, 29-27, at halftime.
The second half however had James Madison outscoring Old Dominion, 46-28. Tiffany Green hit a free throw to open up the second stanza and it would be the last lead the Lady Monarchs would have on the afternoon. Williams connected on a three-pointer on the following play to tie the game up and James Madison would never trail the rest of the way.
Sophomore Jasmine Parker (Norfolk, Va.) hit a jumper with 12:25 remaining in the game pulling her team to within two, 42-40, but from there James Madison would produce a 21-9 run for its largest margin of the game. Jalissa Taylor capped the Duke run to give the home team at 63-49 advantage with 5:21 remaining in the game.
The Lady Monarchs shot just 27 percent from the floor going 17-of-63.
The Old Dominion women's basketball team hits the hardwood for its last regular season game on Wednesday, March 4th as they close out the 2008-09 regular season hosting William & Mary. Seniors Tiffany Green, Jen Nuzzo, and Jazzmin Walters along with managers Eboni and Erica Davis will be honored at the game.