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Post-Game Press Conference:
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NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University women's basketball team persevered late on Thursday night to top Drexel at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, 53-50.
The Lady Monarchs were able to battle back late and retake the lead for good behind clutch shooting and free throws while playing solid defense against the league's second place team who came in having won six of their last seven games.
After Old Dominion (14-6, 5-3) was able to open up a 13-point margin early in the second half, Drexel (13-6, 6-2) was able to claw back behind the CAA's leading scorer in senior Hollie Mershon, who scored 15 of her game-high 22 points in the second half.
The Dragons took their first lead of the game since midway through the first half with 3:32 to play after a Mershon free throw but senior Jackie Cook responded when she nailed a three-pointer a minute later to give ODU back the lead they would not relinquish. Neither team then made a shot until sophomore Shae Kelley's bucket with 23 seconds left put ODU up four at 51-47. The Dragons were able to hit a three-pointer to close within one with eight seconds left but Cook connected on a pair of free throws after she was fouled and Drexel never got off a shot before the clock expired to give the Lady Monarchs the victory.
Kelley missed her third straight double-double by just a point as she added nine points, 10 rebounds, two steals, a block and an assists while Minor set her career-high with 12 points, two rebounds and two steals. Cook led ODU with 14 points and seven rebounds and sophomore Ashley Betz-White set a new career-high with nine assists which is the most by an ODU player in a game this season.
The game featured two of the CAA's top three defensive teams and both offenses started out of the gate slowly. Midway through the first half, ODU was able to find their rhythm and went on a 23-8 run to the end half and take a 26-18 lead into halftime behind sophomore Tiffany Minor's eight points off the bench.
Taylor Wooten added eight rebounds and seven points for Drexel who did not have any scorers in double digits besides Mershon. The Dragons shot 33.9 percent in the game (19-56) and were outscored by ODU in the paint, 28-14. The Lady Monarchs outrebounded the Dragons, 36-29.
Old Dominion remains at home on Sunday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center for a 3 p.m. tip against UNC Wilmington in a regionally televised game by Comcast SportsNet.
Follow Old Dominion women's basketball on Twitter at twitter.com/ODUWBB and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/LadyMonarchsWBB.