March 3, 2010
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NORFOLK, Va. -- In tonight's regular season finale, Senior Night at the Ted, the Lady Monarchs (16-12, 14-4 CAA) were upset by the Towson Tigers (15-14, 9-9 CAA) in extra time, 64-56. The Tigers earned their first ever win against Old Dominion and improved their conference record to .500, ensuring them the seventh seed in the upcoming 2010 Virginia 529 Savings Plan CAA Tournament.
Senior Jessica Canady sent ODU into overtime on a free-throw with 11 seconds remaining, and finished with a team-high 11 points in her final home game. She added seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Towson outscored the Lady Monarchs 14-6 in overtime, though, behind leading scorer Shanae Baker-Brice, who finished with 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting. She scored nine of her 20 points in the extra five minutes, including her only three of the night to start the scoring.
It is the first win for the Tigers over ODU in 15 all-time matchups. It was also the third home CAA loss for ODU, marking the first time in school history ODU has lost multiple home contests in league play.
Early in the game, the Lady Monarchs went on an 13-2 run, taking a five-point lead behind great defense and passing. In all, ODU collected seven blocks in the first half, just two off the season-high for a game and finished with nine. The Lady Monarchs also had six assists on their first nine baskets, including a pretty lob from junior Shadasia Green to Canady that gave ODU the lead with 7:42 remaining.
The Lady Monarchs would extend the lead to eight, 30-22, before Towson closed out the half scoring the last three to cut the halftime lead to 30-25. They would open the second on a 4-0 run, running the streak to 7-0, to get back within one at 30-29 with 18:43 remaining.
The Tigers would complete the comeback with a pair of free throws from Haliena Snowden with 13:23 on the clock, tying the score at 36. Baker-Brice, the fifth leading scorer in the league, would then give Towson their first lead since it was 4-2 early in the first half, with a slash to the basket and left-handed layup.
Old Dominion managed just eight points in the first 14 minutes of the second half, as Towson extended the lead to six, 44-38. The Tigers were all over the glass in the second half, limiting the Lady Monarch chances before junior Kquanise Byrd got ODU rolling again with a terrific move through the defense and a short jumper with 5:54 remaining. On the other end, ODU forced another turnover followed by a big basket from Canady cutting the lead back to just two, 44-42.
The two teams traded buckets on the next two possessions before ODU would take the lead on a huge play from CAA Co-Rookie of the Week Jackie Cook. After a free-throw each from JoNiquia Guilford and Tia Lewis to tie it up at 46, Lewis missed her second attempt but Cook hauled in the big offensive board and nailed the stick back while getting fouled. She would miss the free-throw, though, giving ODU just a two-point lead, 48-46 with under three to play.
After both the teams combined for four turnovers with under a minute to play, Krystin Fields would put Towson up by one with a fast-break layup with 34 seconds on the clock. Canady was fouled with 11 seconds remaining on the other end, nailing the first, but the second was off to the right. Sophomore Tia Lewis hauled in the biggest of her 10 rebounds on the night on the offensive glass, but Green pulled the ball out and ODU did not get a shot off as the game would go into extra time.
The Tigers outrebounded Old Dominion 47-38, including 21 offensive boards. Katrina Wheeler led the way, hauling in 12 boards while adding 11 points for the double-double. Haliena Snowden added 10 points and 8 rebounds to join Baker-Brice and Wheeler as double-figure scorers.
ODU got double figures from three, as Canady led with 11, while Byrd and Lewis added 10 each. Lewis 's sixth double-double of the year came on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.
The Lady Monarchs will head to the 2010 CAA Tournament next week, scheduled to play its first game in the quarterfinals against the Northeastern/Georgia State winner in the opening round. ODU's tip will be Noon on Friday, March 12 at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Va.
Before the game, ODU honored nine of its 11 CAA Silver Anniversary Team Members in a special celebration. The Lady Monarchs welcomed back some of the greatest ODU players of all time and paid tribute to their great careers. The ODU representatives on the 25th Anniversary Team are: Mery Andrade, Lucienne Berthieu, Monique Coker, Natalie Diaz, Shareese Grant, Celeste Hill, T.J. Jordan, Clarisse Machanguana, Hamchetou Maiga, Ticha Penicheiro, and Nyree Roberts.