NORFOLK, Va. – Some unforced turnovers by Old Dominion women’s basketball allowed Virginia State to stay within striking distance, but the Monarchs eked out a 68-58 win over the Trojans on Sunday afternoon at Chartway Arena.
Mariah Clayton led ODU with 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and a 1-for-1 mark at the free-throw line. Kelsey Thompson contributed 10 points with nine rebounds, Hama’ya Fielder shot 3-for-5 from the perimeter for a season-high nine points, and Simone Cunningham finished with eight points and nine boards.
The Monarchs (8-4) had 11 different players find the scoring column and combined to shoot 26-for-52 (41.9%) from the floor, 5-for-14 (35.7%) from deep, and 11-for-13 (84.6%) at the line. ODU also scored more points off turnovers (16-11), in the paint (32-28), on fast breaks (12-11), off the bench (45-2), and more second chance points (17-1).
Though ODU led for nearly 35 minutes, the Trojans (8-4) never seemed to go away, the guests coming up with an answer every time the Monarchs pushed their lead to double digits.
“There were moments where we were sitting on our heels and were just waiting to see what Virginia State was going to do rather than being true to who we are, which is the dictators,” said ODU Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones. “We didn’t play on our toes to make things happen that we wanted to happen. As a result, they were able to go on runs, be within the game, and put us in a position that was uncomfortable.”
VSU jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the game. After Simaru Fields went 2-for-2 at the line, Clayton and Camryn Hill scored a pair of layups to knot the score at 8-8. VSU’s Amesha Miller then put the Trojans back in front 10-8, but the Monarchs responded with a 12-0 spurt to close out the first quarter. Fields started the run with a three-pointer from the top of the arc and Fielder knocked down another three in transition from the right wing. Jadyn Atchison rounded out the stanza with a mid-range jumper from the left side as ODU led, 20-10.
Atchison opened the second quarter with a long ball from the top of the arc and Cunningham followed with a layup to make it 17 straight points for the home team. Sarai Estupiñan was fouled attempting a three and proceeded to make all three of her freebies for a 26-12 advantage. That’s when the Trojans got hot though as a Tiyanna James triple opened an 11-0 response that trimmed ODU’s lead to 28-23 with 2:22 on the clock. Fielder gave the Monarchs some breathing room with a couple of threes in the final minute and ODU went into the locker room up 36-24.
The visitors caught up with another 11-0 run in the third quarter. Anii Harris, Mihjae Hayes and Carmen Kweti each scored on the fast break. James added a deep ball and Hayes made a pair of free throws to even the score at 38-38 at the 6:08 mark. A couple of Thompson baskets and a pair of free throws by Clayton allowed ODU to regain control, 46-42 heading into the fourth quarter.
James’ fourth three-pointer of the afternoon got VSU to within four, 53-49, with 6:56 remaining, but a Brenda Fontana layup opened up a 7-0 push as ODU went back up by double figures, 60-49. The Trojans made one last attack with five straight points that closed the gap to 62-56, but Thompson helped seal the victory with 4-for-4 shooting at the charity stripe over the final 30 seconds.
“We had tremendous play from Hama’ya Fielder and Mariah Clayton,” added Milton-Jones. “I thought those two came in and stepped up in a major way. They hit big shots, made big plays, got rebounds, and changed the momentum. It was just a tremendous swing that they provided for us. Had it not been for their efforts along with the others that touched the floor, this could have been a different outcome today.
“But I’m happy that we can win ugly, keep our season alive, take things to the drawing board and continue to learn.”
ODU was originally scheduled to host Delaware on Sunday, but too many injuries left the Blue Hens without enough available players, so Coach Milton-Jones reached out to VSU to add the game.
“I’m super happy that Coach Nadine [Domond] and her Virginia State squad found it within their hearts and their schedules to squeeze this game in. We were stuck between a rock and a hard place when we had to postpone Delaware, and my heart goes out to them. I hope that they find health in the new year so that they don’t have to go through this scenario any longer.
“It put us in a tough spot, but we were able to get Virginia State on the schedule. They just played last night, got here at midnight, and still had the wherewithal to come and compete at a high level. I’m very appreciate of the fact that they were able to make it, play hard, and make this a game.”
The game marked the first meeting between the two programs since the 1981-82 season.
Next up for the Monarchs is a 1 p.m. home game against South Alabama next Sunday, Dec. 29 to open Sun Belt Conference play. That game will mark the first time Thompson takes the court against her former team.
“Kelsey Thompson was Freshman of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference at South Alabama and home is Alabama for her. Being able to have them come to us to open up the season for the Sun Belt Conference, I know it’s going to be filled with some emotion. One of the coaches that recruited her is now the head coach there now.
“So we’re going to help her figure all of that out emotionally and understand that you have to get to the business of all of this. You can have all of the fanfare and family love at the end, but right now they’re your foe. They’re your opponent and we have a game plan for them and we’re expecting her to come out and play hard and do what she does best.”