NORFOLK, Va. -- Victoria Morris scored a career-high 24 points and the Old Dominion women's basketball team won its third straight home game, defeating FIU, 68-60, on Friday at the Ted Constant Center.
Old Dominion (5-18, 3-6 C-USA) never trailed in the contest after opening the game on a 9-0 run.
"We seem to really have it going for us at home," said head coach Nikki McCray-Penson. "We felt the energy of the crowd. We were just hitting shots and moving the ball and we were getting the shots we wanted in the first half."
The Monarchs shot 50 percent from the field as a team in the first half and led 43-25 at the break.
Morris, who tied her career high with six three-pointers, and Ashley Jackson, who finished the game with 17 points, combined for 33 points in the opening half.
"We were just finding the open shooters and getting the ball inside," said Morris about first half. "We were just being aggressive."
In the second half, Morris drilled a buzzer-beating three to end the third quarter to provide the Monarchs with a 20-point lead entering the fourth.
FIU (6-15, 3-5 C-USA) chipped away at the Monarch lead late, cutting the gap to as little as seven, but the ODU defense held the Panthers to 27 percent shooting in the final quarter to secure the victory.
Defensively, ODU held the Panthers' top two scoring threats in check. Kristian Hudson and Kiandre'a Pound both entered the game averaging over 14 points. However, the Monarchs held the duo to a combined six points on 2-of-13 shooting.
"Our team is in a good place," said McCray. "Everyone knows their roles. I was really proud of the effort and to take advantage of being home."
Friday's game was also the second Education Day game of the season for ODU. The Monarchs are now 2-0 in Education Day games this season, after defeating Coppin State earlier this season in the first.
Up next, the Monarchs head south for C-USA matchups at WKU and Southern Miss next week.
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