Three Blue Hens Score In Double Figures, But Old Dominion Outlasts Delaware 70-61
February 27, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Boxscore
NORFOLK, Va. --Despite sophomore All-American Elena Delle Donne's 22 points and a balanced effort that also included Lauren Carra's 16 points and Vanessa Kabongo's 10, Delaware could not keep up with host Old Dominion and dropped a 70-61 Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball setback Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Delle Donne (at right) utilized seven-of-19 shooting from the floor and a perfect six-for-six at the free throw line to tally her 13th 20-point game this season and 36th of her career. Carra chipped in 16 points, going 50 percent from the field (5-10), including four three pointers. Kabongo hit four of her 10 field goal attempts and hit a pair of free throws for her eighth double-digit game this season.
The Lady Monarchs (20-8, 14-3 CAA) answered with four players in double-digits, paced by Alena Voronina's 15. Tia Lewis and Jasmine Parker each tallied 12 points while Kquanise Byrd tallied 13. Old Dominion was strong at the free throw line, going 15-of-16 on the day (93.8 percent). The Monarchs came up with 10 steals, including four from Lewis, who added 11 rebounds to post the double-double.
The Hens, who slipped to 16-12 overall and 9-8 in the league, struggled at the free throw line, hitting 13 of their 19 attempts (68.4 percent). As a team, Delaware hit 21 of their 54 field goals (38.9 percent), including six three-pointers. Old Dominion held a slim 39-33 advantage on the boards but Delaware hauled down 12 offensive boards, allowing the Hens to post 13 second-chance points. Carra led Delaware's efforts on the boards, pulling down seven rebounds, including six on the defensive end.
Old Dominion extended its win streak to three while also improving to 17-3 all-time vs. Delaware, including a 9-1 mark in Norfolk and 10 straight wins over the Hens overall.
Delaware jumped up by seven midway through the first half, holding a 17-10 advantage before the Monarchs rallied and narrowed the gap to 19-17 with 8:34 left in the half.
“I thought that the first part of the game, we were playing tough,” said Blue Hen head coach Tina Martin. “They gave a lot of guard pressure and we had a hard time getting the ball in on offense and getting it to the post.”
After Lewis canned a jumper at the 5:27 mark, the Monarchs closed out the first half with a 12-4 run to take a 34-30 lead into the break.
In the second half, Old Dominion utilized some sharp shooting to build a 19-point lead midway through the period. The Monarchs knocked down 13 of their 29 second-half field goal attempts (44.8 percent).
Old Dominion became just the third team to hit the 70-point mark against Delaware this season, joining Vanderbilt, which defeated the Hens 72-51 back on Dec. 29 at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic at Virginia Tech, and Hofstra University on Jan. 30 (81-68). The Hens entered Sunday's game ranked No. 1 in the CAA in scoring defense, allowing just 57.3 points per game.
Delaware closed the gap down the stretch, getting to within seven points of the lead on a Delle Donne three-pointer with 1:40 left, but ODU’s Voronina hit a pair of free throws with just under a minute remaining to ice the game.
As a team, Delaware had its best night from the field in the last five games, knocking down 38.9 percent of its attempts (21-54). The last time Delaware surpassed the 40 percent mark was on Feb. 10 at Towson University.
Delaware will host Towson this Wednesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center in the final regular season home game of the season. The Blue Hens will begin action at the CAA Tournament March. 10-13 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.
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