Lady Monarchs Slip Past Seahawks, 59-57

Courtesy: UNCW Athletic Communications
Release: 02/12/2012

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Courtesy: Chris Crouch

Junior guard Jessica Freeman scores two of her nine points on day

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Sophomore forward Shakeva Richards tallied 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and UNCW missed three potential game-tying shots in the final 1:07 as Old Dominion hung on to win, 59-57, in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Sunday afternoon in Trask Coliseum.

With the two clubs battling on "Play 4 Kay" Day at Trask Coliseum, the Lady Monarchs salvaged a split of the season series with the victory and climbed to 9-16 on the year and 6-7 in conference action. The loss dropped the Seahawks to 15-9 overall and 8-5 in the CAA.

Senior forward Tia Lewis was the only other ODU player in double figures with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds in 39 minutes of action.

Sophomore guard Alisha Andrews paced UNCW with 20 points, including 17 in the final period, but was the only Seahawk in double figures on a day when UNCW shot 37.5 percent on 21-of-56 from the floor. Junior forward Ayoola Weaver grabbed a game-high nine boards and junior guard Tawanna Lee collected six assists.

With 1:58 left to play, Andrews converted a layup to cap a 6-2 run and trim ODU's advantage to 59-57. UNCW forced three Monarch turnovers and Richards missed ODU's lone free throw attempt in the final two minutes, but the Seahawks missed three potential game-tying shots down the stretch.

UNCW started the game ice-cold from the floor, converting just 1-of-13 over the first nine minutes of the contest. ODU capitalized on the dry spell to build an eight point lead, 10-2, when Richards drained a baseline jumper at 11:49.

The Monarchs maintained their advantage, leading by 10 on five separate occasions in the first stanza, but struggled from the field at times in the opening frame. ODU finished the first half connecting on 11-of-29, 37.9 percent, and just 2-of-8, 25.0 percent, from beyond the arc.

Junior guard Jessica Freeman ran the Seahawks' offense down the stretch of the first half, collecting nine of UNCW's last 14 points of the half to keep UNCW within striking distance. A baseline jumper by junior center Chelsea McGowen with 43 seconds left cut the lead to eight, 31-23, at halftime.

UNCW came out of the gate strong in the second period, using a 13-5 run to tie the game at 36-all off two free throws from Lee at the 16:40 mark.

After ODU regained a slim lead, 46-41, UNCW tallied a quick 6-0 spurt to take its first lead of the game, 47-46, when junior forward Karneshia Garrett deposited a layup with 9:36 remaining.

The Monarchs responded by rattling off a 9-1 run to retake the seven point advantage, 55-48, when Richards converted a tough lay-in with 6:07 to play. ODU held the advantage for the remainder of the contest.

UNCW begins a two-game road swing at James Madison Thursday at 7 p.m. ODU opens a three-game homestand Thursday when it takes on Drexel at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

Old Dominion now holds a 43-1 all-time series lead and a 19-0 record on UNCW's home floor. The two sides split their season series as UNCW recorded a 76-54 victory at the Ted Constant Center on Jan. 22.
The Seahawks recorded a +12 margin in points off turnovers, holding a 22-10 edge in that category. The total represented the second-highest differential in that category this season behind a +16 effort (25-9) in a 60-53 win vs. Northeastern on Jan. 5.
The loss marked only the second time under coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke where one player scored in double figures, with the only other occasion in an 83-24 loss at N.C. State on Nov. 16.
Sophomore forward Shakeva Richards' team-high 13 points was the lowest point total for an opponent high scorer in a UNCW loss under Cooper-Dyke.
The defeat was just UNCW's second loss under Cooper-Dyke when holding an opponent under 60 points, now standing at 15-2 when that occurs.
UNCW wore wearing pink jerseys for first time in support of the WBCA Play 4Kay Initiative, a special event sponsored by Molly Maid.
The Seahawks moved to 5-1 this season and 7-2 under Cooper-Dyke in games decided by three points or less.
UNCW shot below 40 percent from the floor for the 11th time this season and fell to 3-8 when doing so. The team also slipped to 9-14 under Cooper-Dyke when making less than 40 percent of its field goal attempts.
ODU's bench out-scored the Seahawks reserves by a 25-18 margin. It marked just the second time in nine games that UNCW's bench has failed to out-score its opponent.
The Seahawks recorded double-figure assists for the 23rd time this season as it combined to record 11 helpers.
UNCW posted double-digit steals for the 16th time this season as it finished with 11 thefts.
The Seahawks fell to 5-9 this season and 8-15 under Cooper-Dyke when a team holds a lead of 10 points or more in a contest.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

2 - Tawanna Lee

Matched season high in assists for the second straight contest and the fourth time this season as she dished out six helpers.
Paced team in assists for the ninth time this season.

4 - Alisha Andrews

Reached double figures in points for 17th time this season and the 36th time in her career.
Paced team in scoring for the 10th time this season and the 15th time in her career.
Reached the 20-point plateau for the second time in as many games and the fourth time this season.
Moved into eighth place on the program's all-time steals list with her three thefts against the Lady Monarchs. Has 169 career steals to her credit as she surpassed Sahsha Taylor during the contest.
Jumped into fourth place on the program's career three-point field goals made chart with four treys against the Lady Monarchs. Has 113 career three-point field goals made during her career, as she surpassed Denise March during the contest.

32 - Ayoola Weaver

Led team in rebounding for the ninth time this season. Team suffered first loss of the season when paced by Weaver in rebounds (8-1).

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