MONROE, LA. – ULM’s Nya Valentine rattled off three three-pointers in the final 30 seconds to make it interesting, but Old Dominion women’s basketball held off the Warhawks for a 72-68 final on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Monarchs (11-4, 3-0 Sun Belt) led by as many as 12 points, 42-30, with 8:13 to play in the third quarter. The hosts then rattled off 10 unanswered and kept the game close from there. In the fourth, a couple of Jakayla Johnson layups trimmed the ODU lead to 61-58 at the 4:07 mark.
That’s when ULM continued to send En’Dya Buford to the line. The Memphis, Tennessee native, who came into the game ranked second in the conference in free throws made, free throw attempts and free throw shooting, made them pay for that decision as she made 5-of-6 shots at the line. Simone Cunningham also went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe and Kelsey Thompson converted 2-of-3 free throws in the final minute.
ODU was ahead 67-59 with 33 seconds left. ULM continued to feed Valentine, and suddenly the ODU lead shrunk to just three points, 71-68, with five seconds left in the game. The Warhawks (5-9, 1-2) then sent Thompson to the line and she went 1-for-2 to close out the game.
Buford led the way with 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the field. She also made her only shot from beyond the arc and sank 7-of-9 free throw attempts. Brenda Fontana hit a couple of threes and finished with 13 points and a team-high six rebounds, Kelsey Thompson also netted 13 points with six assists, and Mariah Clayton contributed 10 points and five rebounds to the cause.
The Monarchs combined to shoot 24-for 56 (42.9%) from the field, 7-for-16 (43.8%) from distance, and 17-for-24 (70.8%) at the charity stripe. Both teams grabbed 42 boards and ODU led for all but 18 seconds in the game.
Buford and Thompson opened the game with a pair of threes and Fontana added a couple of free throws as the Monarchs jumped out to a quick 8-0 start. The Warhawks scored the next six points before Clayton hit a three from the right side. After 10 minutes, the Monarchs found themselves in control, 16-11.
ULM fought back to within three, 23-20, midway through the second quarter as Valentine made a shot from distance and Meloney Thames added a 2-for-2 effort at the line. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the way and ODU was up 35-28 at halftime.
Fontana pushed the Monarch lead to double figures, 38-28, with a three to open the third quarter. A few minutes later, ULM’s Cianté Downs completed an and-one opportunity to open a 10-0 run by the home team. Another deep ball by Fontana and an old-fashioned three from Clayton helped create some separation, 55-46 at the 1:14 mark. Valentine then closed out the stanza with a triple as ODU took a 55-49 advantage into the fourth.
ODU returns to Norfolk to open up a four-game homestand over the next two weeks, beginning with a 6:30 p.m. tilt against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, Jan. 8.