NORFOLK, Va. – In the first ever meeting between the Old Dominion women’s basketball team and Rider, it was the Broncs (1-4) who defeated the Lady Monarchs (3-2) by a score of 59-56 on Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Center.
Chelisa Painter scored Old Dominion’s first six points, followed by four consecutive Jennie Simms points, placing ODU up 10-2 by the second media timeout at the 11:56 mark. Eight of the Lady Monarchs first 10 points came from inside the paint. Rider missed its first 13 shots to start the contest.
Over the next two minutes, the Broncs went on a 10-0 run, giving them a 12-10 advantage with 9:47 to play in the first half, before ODU tied up the game at 14-14 at the 7:28 mark.
Rider used a 9-0 run to take a 23-14 lead at the 3:19 mark of the opening half. Going in the locker rooms at halftime, the Lady Monarchs trailed 24-16.
Leading the way for Old Dominion in the first half was Simms with eight points and four rebounds, while Chelisa Painter scored six points to compliment nine boards. Rider’s Robin Perkins led all scorers in the first half with nine points.
The Lady Monarchs shot 7-29 (24.1%) from the floor in the first half, 0-9 (0%) from three and 2-7 (28.6%) from the free throw line. The Broncs hit 8 of 31 (25.8%) from the floor, 3-13 (23.1%) from downtown and 5-11 (45.5%) from the charity stripe.
By the first media timeout of the second half, Rider held onto a 34-27 advantage with 14:54 remaining. Old Dominion cut its deficit down to just three (38-35) with 10:56 left to play.
Jennie Simms converted on a three-point play, tying the ballgame up at 40 apiece with 9:03 showing on the game-clock. The Broncs clanged to a 47-44 advantage at the last media timeout with 3:51 remaining in regulation.
With the shot-clock expiring, Ashley Betz-White drilled a running floater from just inside the free throw line to tie the contest up 49-49 with 1:04 to play. Neither team could manage to score in the last minute of regulation, forcing both teams’ first overtime period of the 2014-15 season.
Rider scored the first six points in overtime, jumping out to a 55-49 lead with 2:59 showing on the game-clock. A very deep Tiffany Minor three pointer pulled the Lady Monarchs within just one point, 55-54, with 1:29 to play in overtime. The Broncs answered with and and-one, before LaQuanda Younger hit a jumper to bring the score to 58-56 with 43 seconds.
Younger’s bucket would be the last of the game for the Lady Monarchs, who fell by a final score of 59-56 to Rider.
For the second consecutive contest, Jennie Simms scored 20 points or more, as she went for 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on Sunday. Chelisa Painter also finished 11 rebounds to go along with eight points. Ashley Betz-White also finished the game with eight points to compliment four assists and three steals.
Rider’s Robin Perkins led the way for the Broncs, going for 18 points and six rebounds. Emily Fazzini finished with 13 points and five boards.
For the game, Old Dominion shot 32.4% (23-71) from the floor, 19.0% (2-21) from three and 33.3% (6-18) from the free throw line. Rider shot 31.3% (20-64) from the floor, 25.0% (5-20) from three and 51.9% (14-27) from the free throw line.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
Old Dominion will be back on the hardwood Wednesday, Dec. 3, against Howard at 11:00 a.m. for the Lady Monarchs annual Education Day at the Ted Constant Center.
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