NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start and fell to Cincinnati, 54-33, on Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Center.
Cincinnati (6-3) utilized a 16-0 run that closed the opening quarter to jump out to an early lead. The Bearcats carried a 31-15 lead into halftime and would lead by double figures for the remainder of the contest.
"I was disappointed in our execution," said head coach Nikki McCray-Penson. "We just didn't do what we were supposed to do from a discipline standpoint, in taking care of the ball and keeping them off the boards."
Old Dominion (1-7) held the Bearcats to over 15 points below their season scoring average, as Cincinnati entered the game averaging over 70 points per game.
"When we were locked in, they didn't score," said McCray. "They took the shots we wanted them to take."
However, cold shooting and turnovers plagued the Monarchs offensively. ODU shot 26 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc, while Cincinnati scored 21 points off of 19 Monarch turnovers. The Bearcats also held a 37-25 advantage on the boards.
MaKayla Timmons led the Monarchs with 11 points and three assists. Victoria Morris, a Cincinnati native, also finished in double figures with 10 points.
Cincy's Nikira Goings led all scorers with 16 and Ana Owns added 15. As a team, Cincinnati shot 43 percent and outscored ODU, 15-3, in second-chance points.
"They did a good job of playing to their strengths," said McCray of Cincinnati. "Even when their shots were not falling, they crashed the boards."
The 33 points was lowest scoring total for ODU since 2009, when the Monarchs scored 32 in a loss to Syracuse.
Up next, Old Dominion travels to VCU on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. matchup.
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