EL PASO, Texas – No. 2 seeded Southern Miss (18-4) won their 12th game in a row and snapped the Old Dominion University women’s basketball team’s six game win streak and hopes of a spot in the Semifinals of the C-USA Tournament with an 83-64 victory over the Lady Monarchs on Thursday night.
Prior to Thursday’s setback, ODU’s last loss came on Feb. 15 against UTEP (65-55). Old Dominion also won eight of their last 11 contests.
Old Dominion was led by Shae Kelley, who netted 13 points, grabbed four boards, blocked three assists and came up with two steals in just 26 minutes of play. Also in double-figures for the Lady Monarchs was LaQuanda Younger with 12 points. Odegua Oigbokie finished with nine points and five rebounds, while senior guard Stephanie Gardner went for eight points.
Southern Miss. jumped out to a 17-8 advantage at the 14:41 mark, before two LaQuanda Younger buried two three’s and Tiffany Minor and Stephanie Gardner each drilled a trey themselves to tie the game at 20 apiece at the 11:45 mark.
For the second consecutive ballgame, Shae Kelley has been hampered by foul trouble. Tonight she picked up her second foul at the 13:57 mark; therefore, the First Team All-Conference USA junior forward was limited to just six minutes of action in the opening half. On Wednesday night, Kelley played just four minutes and some change in the first half.
At the half, USM took a 46-40 advantage into the locker room, as Tamara Jones led all scorers with 12 points in 14 minutes of work. LaQuanda Younger led the way for the Lady Monarchs with nine points, while Tiffany Minor added eight points.
The Lady Eagles started the second half on a 6-0 run to claim a 52-40 advantage and forced a Karen Barefoot timeout just one minute and 45 seconds into the half. With 5:16 to play in regulation, USM took their largest lead of the ballgame (20 points), before claiming an 83-64 victory.
The Lady Eagles were led by Brittany Dinkins (19 points and seven rebounds), Jordan Kierra (16 points and six rebounds), Jamierra Faulkner (15 points and 12 assists) and Tamara Jones (12 points).
For the game, Southern Miss. shot a blistering 55.9% (33-59) from the floor, 60% (6-10) from three and 73.3% (11-21) from the free-throw line. Old Dominion hit 37.5% (21-56) of their shot attempts, 38.1% (8-21) from downtown and 70% (14-20) from the charity stripe.
FIRST HALF NOTES
The Lady Monarchs knocked down 46.7% (14-30) from the floor, 46.2% (6-13) from three and 66.7% (6-9) from the charity stripe. The Lady Eagles shot blistering 17-30 (56.7%) from the floor, 66.7% (4-6) from downtown and 8-11 (72.7%) from the free-throw line.
In a first half that saw five ties and one lead change, Old Dominion held advantages in second chance points (9-0) and bench points (23-6), while USM scored 11 points off ODU’s 10 turnovers.
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