BERKELEY, Cali. – In the fifth ever meeting between the Old Dominion women’s basketball team (7-4) and Cal (8-3), it was the Bears who outlasted the Lady Monarchs on Monday night by a score of 79-59 at the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California. The loss snaps ODU’s two game winning streak, while the win snaps the Bears three-game skid.
In what was the last non-conference contest of the 2014-15 regular season for both squads, the Lady Monarchs got behind early, trailing 14-4 out of the gates.
The Lady Monarchs trailed by a score of 44-20 heading into the locker rooms at halftime, as four players netted four points each: Jennie Simms, Tiffany Minor, Destinee Young and LaQuanda Younger.
The Cal Bears had four players score at least seven points in the first half: Mercedes Jefflo (nine points), Brittany Boyd (eight points), Mikayla Cowling (eight points) and Gabby Green (seven points).
For the half, the Lady Monarchs connected on 8-26 (30.8%) from the floor, 1-5 (20%) from downtown and 3-7 (42.9%) from the free-throw line. Cal shot 66.7% (20-30) from the field, 42.9% (3-7) from three and 33.3% (1-3) from the free-throw line.
The Lady Monarchs continued to battle throughout the entire second half, cutting the deficit to under 20 points on multiple occasions; however, it was Cal who came out on top by a score of 79-59.
Cal held advantages in points in the paint (44-18), points off turnovers (24-15) and fast-break points (16-4). ODU held advantages in second chance points (16-10), as well as bench points (13-11).
Jennie Simms tied a game-high with 20 points (6-8 FT) to compliment seven rebounds and four assists. LaQuanda Younger scored nine points while hauling down four rebounds and dishing out two assists in a total of 24 minutes off the bench. Chelisa Painter ended the contest with eight points and four rebounds, while Tiffany Minor netted seven points to go along with five rebounds. Destinee Young scored six points and grabbed four boards.
Reshanda Gray finished the ballgame with 20 points, while Brittany Boyd scored 14 points, dished out 14 assists, grabbed eight rebounds and accumulated seven steals in the winning effort. Also in double figures for the Bears were: Mikayla Cowling (13 points and seven rebounds), Mercedes Jefflo (11 points) and Penina Davidson (10 points and eight rebounds).
For the ballgame, Old Dominion shot 36.8% (21-57) from the floor, 37.5% (6-16) from downtown and 64.7% (11-17) from the charity stripe. Cal finished the contest shooting 55% (33-60) from the floor, 40% (6-15) from three and 63.6% (7-11) from the free throw line.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
After four consecutive road contests, the Lady Monarchs will return home to the Ted on Jan. 4, 2015 to start Conference USA play against Charlotte. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 p.m.
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