NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion women’s basketball team (14-9, 7-5) started the contest on a 19-6 run and never looked back, in a 79-50 victory over UTEP (10-12, 5-8) on Saturday afternoon at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in front of a crowd of 3,204 for the program’s 13th annual Hoops for a Cure ballgame, in support of breast cancer awareness.
Jennie Simms (12 rebounds, three assists and two steals) led three Lady Monarchs in double figures with 17 points, as Tiffany Minor (17 points, three assists and two steals) and Ashley Betz-White (16 points and four assists) followed. Ije Ajemba chipped in a game and career high 13 rebounds to compliment eight points. Old Dominion outrebounded the Miners, 56-36, on the day.
The Lady Monarchs stormed out of the gates, behind eight early points from Betz-White on 3-4 shooting from the floor (2-2 3pt), claiming a 26-6 advantage at the 7:00 minute mark of the first half. By the last media timeout of the opening half, ODU led 33-12, before taking a 40-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Betz-White led all first half scorers, netting 12 points, as Jennie Simms followed with 10. Ije Ajemba hauled down a half-high 10 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. LuLu McKinney led the Miners with eight first half points.
As a team in the first half, ODU connected on 45.9% (17-37) from the floor and 44.4% (4-9) from three-point range. UTEP was held to 8-33 (24.2%) from the floor in the first half and 1-9 (11.1%) from deep.
UTEP started the second half on a 5-0 run, bringing the score to 42-27 with 17:35 showing on the second half’s game-clock. Old Dominion stretched its advantage back to 19 at the under-12 media timeout, possessing a 51-32 lead with 11:13 to play.
ODU led 69-42 at the final media stoppage of the ballgame, which occurred with 3:59 left in the contest, before claiming a 79-50 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Constant Center.
For the game, Old Dominion shot 44.4% (28-63) from the floor, 40% (8-20) from three and 57.7% (15-26) from the charity stripe. The Miners connected on shot 28.6% (18-63) from the floor, 18.2% (4-22) from behind the arc and 55.6% (10-18) from the FT line.
Sparkle Taylor led the way for UTEP 17 points. Also in double figures for the Miners Cameasha Tuner (11 points) and LuLu McKinney (10 points).
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY MONARCHS
Old Dominion will hit the road for its next two contests. On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Lady Monarchs will battle Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss., before traveling to take on La Tech on Sunday, Feb. 22. Sunday’s contest will be aired on Fox Sports Network (FSN).
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