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NORFOLK, Va. - Senior Jackie Cook scored a career-high 24 points to held lead the Old Dominion University women's basketball team to a 77-46 victory over USC Upstate on Tuesday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in their home opener.
The 31-point victory was their most since a 73-42 win over George Mason on Jan. 15, 2009 and is their most lopsided win in non-conference play since a 97-54 victory over Norfolk State on Nov. 30, 2008.
The Lady Monarchs forced 23 first half turnovers, scoring 25 points off of them as Cook poured in 18 points. For the game, Old Dominion (2-0) scored 34 points off 34 Spartan turnovers.
ODU led from start to finish and by as many as 33 points at one point in the second half. Also scoring in double-digits for the Lady Monarchs was sophomore Shae Kelley (10 pts, 7 rebounds and freshman Galaisha Goodhope (12 pts, 1 asst, 2 steals).
Cook managed a career-high in not only points but in field goals made with 10 and in steals with five. ODU had 15 steals in the contest collectively. The Spartans struggled with the Lady Monarchs pressure immediately as ODU jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the first six minutes of the game and never looked back.
USC Upstate (0-2) shot 50% from the field in the first half and outrebounded the Lady Monarchs, 33-29, but managed just 18 field goals in the entire contest. Brittany Starling (17 pts, 4 rebounds) and Shelby Hicks (10 pts, 9 rebounds) led the Spartans off the bench.
Old Dominion returns to action on Saturday when they face former CAA rival VCU at 7 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Follow Old Dominion women's basketball on Twitter at twitter.com/ODUWBB and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/LadyMonarchsWBB.