Feb. 20, 2011
Feb. 20, 2011
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Senior Kquanise Byrd dished out a career-high eight assists, but it was her bucket with three seconds remaining in the game that was the story Sunday as Old Dominion escaped Hempstead, N.Y. with a 79-77 win at Hofstra.
The game featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes, but no lead change was more important than the final one. Hofstra's Kate Loper made one of two from the free throw line to tie the game at 77 with 32 seconds remaining to set the stage for Byrd's late game dramatics.
After an ODU timeout, Byrd passed on a screen and drove to her left where she beat her defender, but ran into Hofstra forward Shante Evans two feet from the goal. The senior ducked under Evans and was able to use the glass to bank in the game-winnner.
After each head coach called a timeout, Hofstra's Candice Bellocchio received the inbound pass and raced the ball just over halfcourt, but her last second heave fell well short as the horn blared.
Playing close to home and in front of numerous family and friends, senior Shadasia Green (Paterson, N.J.) led four Lady Monarchs in double-figures with 17 points, seven rebounds and a career-high tying five steals. Sophomore Jackie Cook tied her career-high with 16 points, while senior Alena Voronina tallied 15 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Old Dominion (18-8, 12-3 CAA) remains tied with UNC Wilmington for second in the Colonial Athletic Association standings. The 79 ODU points is the second most scored by the Lady Monarchs this season.
Hofstra (15-11, 7-8 CAA) drilled nine shots from beyond the arc against the nation's top-ranked three-point field goal defense. The nine triples made are the most against ODU this season. Nicole Capurso led the Pride with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting.
After being plagued with foul trouble for most of the first half, junior Tia Lewis ended the afternoon with 11 points and six rebounds in only 24 minutes, while senior Jasmine Parker put up another stellar defensive effort, swiping five steals.
Old Dominion returns home Thursday, Feb. 24 to take on William & Mary at 7 p.m. The Lady Monarchs then welcome Delaware to the Ted Constant Center three days later for the final home game of the 2010-11 season.
-ODU-