Nov. 30, 2012
Post-Game Press Conference:
NORFOLK, Va. - Despite a second half comeback to pull within four points, the Old Dominion University women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season on Friday night against No. 10/11 California at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, 63-47.
Old Dominion (4-1), which opened with four wins for the first time since the 1998-99 season, trailed almost throughout, but pulled to 51-47 on a free throw by Galaisha Goodhope with 8:26 to play. Goodhope missed the second, but the Lady Monarchs maintained possession until Layushia Clarendon stole it for Cal.
The senior made a pair of free throws at the other end, sparking a game-ending 12-0 run.
Clarendon scored 15 points in a very sloppy road debut for California who travels to No.4 Duke on Sunday. Brittany Boyd added 11 points and Gennifer Brandon had nine points and 17 rebounds for the Golden Bears (6-0), who won despite committing 25 turnovers and missing 16 of 32 free throws.
Sophomore transfer Shae Kelley led Old Dominion with 21 points and seven rebounds. The Lady Monarchs were outrebounded 66-33, including 27-13 at the offensive end, and shot just 28.3 percent (17-60) but stayed in it by turning the Golden Bears' turnovers into 23 points.
The Golden Bears led 31-20 at halftime and were held 21 points under their season average of 83.8. Old Dominion meanwhile has now forced 124 turnovers in five games (24.8 per contest) and has allowed opponents to shoot just 14 percent (8-57) from behind the arc on the season.
The Lady Monarchs closed to 19-13 with just under seven minutes to play in the opening half, but Brandon had six points in a 12-5 run that rebuilt the Golden Bears' lead to 31-18.
A late basket by Myeisha Hall nudged the Lady Monarchs above 20 percent shooting in the half. They finished 6 for 29 (21 percent), while the Golden Bears were 12 for 33 (36 percent).
The Lady Monarchs quickly return to action on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. as they host Dartmouth 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.