NORFOLK, Va. – In the 2014-15 Conference USA opener for both teams, it was the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs (8-4, 1-0) who took down the Charlotte 49ers (4-9, 0-1) by a score of 66-57 on Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Jennie Simms recorded her career high of 25 points to go along with five rebounds in the winning effort.
In the 14th ever meeting between the two schools, the 49ers jumped out to a 10-4 lead by the first media timeout, which occurred at the 15:40 mark of the opening half. Just before the second media timeout (11:50), Jennie Simms drilled a three bringing the score to 15-11 in favor of Charlotte.
An Ije Ajemba layup with 8:56 to play in the opening 20 minutes cut the Lady Monarchs deficit to just two (19-17). Tiffany Minor tied the game up at 25-25 with a wide-open layup, before Minor knocked down a deep three-pointer to put ODU ahead 28-25 with 1:56 remaining in the first half.
Old Dominion used an 11-0 run over the final 4:44 to take a 30-25 advantage into the locker rooms at halftime.
Despite picking up two first half fouls, Simms led the way for the Lady Monarchs with nine points, while Minor followed with seven points. Ije Ajemba surpassed her previous career high of five points in just six minutes of work after shooting 3-4 from the floor in the first half. Destinee Young led all rebounders in the first 20 minutes with seven boards.
Three players for Charlotte netted five points each: Lefty Webster, Hillary Sigmon and Ciara Gregory.
For the first half, ODU connected on 46.2% (12-26) from the floor, 50% (2-4) from deep and 100% (4-4) from the charity stripe. Charlotte shot 30.3% (10-33) from the floor, 27.3% (3-11) from three and 100% (2-2) from the free-throw line in the opening half.
Each team scored four baskets in the first four minutes of action in the second half, which presented a 41-37 advantage in favor of the Lady Monarchs with 15:05 remaining on the game-clock.
Simms tied her career high of 23 points with a long three-pointer, which lifted the Lady Monarchs to a 48-37 lead (largest of the game at the time) with 11:17 to play. Old Dominion’s defense held Charlotte to a scoring drought, which lasted 5:53 while extending its lead to 53-37 with 9:40 left in the closing half.
The 49ers drought extended to 8:42 on 0 of 13 shooting, while ODU extended its lead to 55-37 at the 7:30 mark. Charlotte then answered a 9-0 run in a 90 second span to pull within nine points (55-46) with 5:16 remaining in regulation.
Charlotte cut its deficit to 60-53 off a Kira Gordon put-back with 42.8 left to play, before the Lady Monarchs finished the 49ers off for good with a 66-57 victory.
Minor totaled nine points and three rebounds while Ajemba finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting with nine rebounds. The Lady Monarchs shot 49.0% (24-49) from the field, 36.4% (4-11) from beyond the arc, and 73.7% (14-19) from the free-throw line. Old Dominion led in points in the paint (24-16), points off turnovers (17-10), and points off the bench (19-18).
Webster paced the 49ers with 21 points, including a team-high three three-pointers. Alexis Alexander and Olivia Rankin followed with seven and six points respectively. Charlotte finished the game shooting 33.3% (24-72) from the field, 23.1% (6-26) from three-point range, and 75% (3-4) from the charity stripe.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
Old Dominion will continue its three game home-stand on Thursday, Jan. 8, against Marshall with tipoff slated for 7:00 p.m.
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