BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Western Kentucky free-throws with six seconds remaining in the game spoiled Old Dominion’s 22-point comeback and lifted the Lady Toppers (29-4) over the Lady Monarchs (20-12) in heart-breaking fashion, 61-59, in the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament on Friday afternoon in front of a nationally televised audience. Jennie Simms led the way for ODU, pouring in 23 of her game-high 25 points in the second half.
Simms (8-9 FT’s) also hauled down 10 rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked two shots and compiled two steals in 37 minutes of work. Ashley Betz-White scored 16 points, while Chelisa Painter (five points) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds (11 offensive). Ije Ajemba (three steals) followed with eight boards of her own.
Two Chastity Gooch free-throws gave WKU a 55-53 lead with 2:45 to play in the game, before Simms got an offensive rebound and made a layup tying the game at 55-55. The Lady Toppers then scored four straight points giving them a 59-55 lead with 1:54 remaining in regulation.
Again, Old Dominion answered the call with four straight points (two from Oigbokie and two from Simms), tying the game for the fourth time at 59-59 with just 29 seconds to play. With six seconds remaining in regulation, Chelisa Painter was whistled for a foul, in which Alexis Govan would knock down both free-throws to lift the Lady Toppers over the Lady Monarchs, 61-59, in the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament.
Western Kentucky jumped off to a quick 5-0 start in the first half before Destinee Young banked home ODU’s first two points at the 18:01 mark. The Lady Toppers then extended its lead to 24-2 with 13:03 to play in the opening half. ODU started the contest 1-8 from the floor, while WKU connected on 10 of its first 15 FG attempts and 4-7 from three, scoring eight points off ODU’s four early turnovers.
Ashley Jackson made a layup, before Ashley Betz-White drilled a three then a deep two, bringing the score to 26-12 with 8:15 showing on the first half’s game-clock. At the final media stoppage of the first half (3:32), the Lady Toppers led 33-15; WKU connected on 45.2% from the field and ODU hit just 21.4% to that point.
Jennie Simms knocked down two free-throws at the 1:30 mark for her first two points of the contest, after starting the ballgame 0-6 from the floor. Western Kentucky took a 37-19 advantage into the locker rooms at half-time, behind half-highs: 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Kendall Noble. Ashley Betz-White led the Lady Monarchs with eight points on 3-6 shooting.
Western Kentucky led by as many as 22 points in the first half (24-2), but the resilient Lady Monarchs bunch hung around and started the second half on a 16-2 run, cutting its deficit down to eight after the first four minutes of second half action.
A made Ashley Betz-white left handed layup brought the contest to just a three point game, 42-39, in favor of the Lady Toppers with 13:17 remaining in regulation. By the under-12 media timeout, WKU held onto a 44-39 lead, as ODU outscored Western Kentucky 20-7 in the second half to that point.
Old Dominion then took its first lead of the contest, 51-48, off 10 straight Jennie Simms points with 9:34 left in the second half. Two Ashley Jackson free-throws capped of a 10-0 run over a 3:32 span, while WKU missed its last 11 shots giving ODU a 53-48 lead, its largest of the game.
Old Dominion got its way back into the game with 15 second half offensive rebounds in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, while WKU had 10 total rebounds to that point in the second half. By the final media timeout of the contest, the game was all tied up at 53 apiece, before the Lady Toppers claimed the 61-59 win on Friday afternoon at Legacy Arena.
For the game, ODU out-rebounded WKU 50-43, after trailing the battle of the boards by seven at halftime. The game experienced a total of four ties and two lead changes.
Alexis Govan led the way for the Lady Toppers, scoring 17 points to go along with five rebounds. Kendall Noble followed, netting 15 points to compliment 10 rebounds and five assists.
With the win, Western Kentucky advances to tomorrow night’s championship game against Southern Miss.