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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - No. 8 seed Old Dominion University women's basketball shot a season-high 60 percent including 73 percent in the second half to defeat No. 9 seed Towson 72-58 Thursday afternoon in the first round of the CAA Tournament.
With the win, ODU (11-20) moves on to play No. 1 seed Delaware tomorrow at noon.
ODU held a 29-25 halftime lead behind 15 first half points from Lewis but Towson took a 45-44 lead on a jumper from Deree Fooks with 13 minutes to play.
The Lady Monarchs bounced right back with a three-pointer from Jackie Cook to retake the lead at 51-47.
Towson cut the lead to 56-54 on a pair of free throws from Krystal Parnell but Old Dominion followed with a 12-0 run to take a commanding 68-54 lead and Towson never got the score back under double-digits. JoNiquia Guilford had four of her eight points during the spurt for ODU.
The beginning of the contest was a back and forth affair as Towson pulled to a 17-12 lead when Tia Lewis scored seven-straight points for ODU and then gave ODU a 23-21 lead with another jumper.
ODU led the rest of the first half as Ashley Betz-White broke a 25 all tie with four points to end the half as the Lady Monarchs led 29-25 at the break.
Lewis led Old Dominion with her game-high 22 points and eight rebounds while Cook scored 15 points, with 13 coming in the second half. Betz-White chipped in 12 points and a team-high five assists.
Parnell led Towson with 14 points while Tanisha McTiller added 10 points.