HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Five Lady Monarchs scored double-figures to lift the Old Dominion University women’s basketball team over So. Miss. 92-82, giving ODU their first ever win in Conference USA. With the win, Old Dominion snapped USM’s 12-game home win-streak and moves to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in the conference, while the Lady Eagles fall to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in the C-USA.
Old Dominion led for a vast majority of the first half and at one point by as many as 12, before So. Miss. closed the opening half on a 7-0 run capped off by banked half-court shot by Jerontay Clemons just before the buzzer sounded, cutting the Lady Monarch’s lead down to just two, 42-40.
It did not take Old Dominion long to push their lead back to 12, as the Lady Monarchs led 55-43 at the 15:55 mark in the second half. From there, ODU never looked back, leading the rest of the way.
Shae Kelley recorded her 11th double-double of the season and led the Lady Monarchs with 25 points (7-12 FG, 11-15 FT), 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Also in double figures for Old Dominion were: Chelisa Painter (17 points on 7-13 FG’s and six rebounds), Galaisha Goodhope (15 points on 5-7 shooting and 2-3 from downtown, as well as six assists, six steals and five rebounds), Tiffany Minor (14 points on 4-6 shooting from behind the arc, four assists and two steals), and Stephanie Gardner (11 points, 3-5 FG’s).
USM’s Jamierra Faulkner, who not only leads the nation in assists this season but is also the active leader in the country for assists throughout her collegiate career, went off for 36 points (8-15 3PT), five assists and four steals in the losing effort. Clemons ended up scoring 20 points in Wednesday’s contest, while teammate Markia Nix scored 14 points (8-8 FT’s).
Old Dominion dished out a total of 18 assists compared to USM’s 13; the Lady Monarchs also outscored the Lady Eagles on the bench, 10-2.
For the game, Old Dominion shot a blistering 60.4% (29-48) from the field, 61.5% (8-13) from three and 66.7% (26-39) from the free-throw line. So. Miss. was 39.5% (30-76) form the floor, 30% (9-30) from downtown and 61.9% (13-21) from the charity stripe.
First Half Notes
USM scored the first four points of the half before the Lady Monarchs took the lead (9-8) and then extended their lead to 18-10 off two Chelisa Painter and-one’s and two Tiffany Minor three pointers with 14:18 left in the first half.
Old Dominion would use hot shooting throughout the half to take a 42-40 lead into the locker room. Minor led the way for ODU, scoring 12 (4-4 3PT); Kelley went for 10 points and six rebounds. Goodhope ended the half with five points & two assists.
Jerontay Clemons led the way for USM scoring 13. Faulkner had 11 points, five assists and three steals.
For the half, ODU shot 50% (14-28) from the floor and nailed 6-9 (66.7%) 3PT's. USM shot 42.5% (17-40) on their FGA's and 2-8 (25%) from downtown.
Next Up for the Lady Monarchs
Old Dominion will return home to the Ted Constant Center for Alumni Night on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., when they will square-off on the hardwood against Florida Atlantic.
Other Key Dates (All Home Games)
Wednesday, Jan. 22 - vs. UAB - 7:00 p.m. (Military Appreciation Night)
Saturday, Feb. 1 - vs. Marshall - 7:00 p.m. (Barefoot Night)
Saturday, Feb 15 - vs. UTEP - 7:00 p.m. (Hoops for a Cure)
Next Karen Barefoot Coach’s Show
The next Coach’s Show will be Monday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at YNot Pizza and Italian Cuisine in the University Village, hosted by the Voice of the Lady Monarchs, Doug Ripley, on ESPN Radio 94.1.
Be sure to follow ODU Women’s Basketball at @ODUWBB on Twitter and ‘Like’ the ODU Lady Monarch Basketball page by clicking HERE to stay up to date with the latest news and coverage.