OLD DOMINION MOVES PAST WILLIAM & MARY
The #1 seed Old Dominion Lady Monarchs slugged their way past #5 William & Mary Friday, 62-49. With the win, the Lady Monarchs set up a showdown with the #2 seed, James Madison.
William & Mary turned in a gritty performance, hanging with Old Dominion throughout the first half and much of the second thanks to the play of Ornit Shwartz (Netanya, Israel) and Quintina Walker (Upper Marlboro, MD). Shwartz scored 8 of her 10 points in the first half as the Tribe went into the locker room down by just six. Walker scored 8 of her 12 in the second half as William & Mary tried to keep pace with the Lady Monarchs.
The turning point in the game came early in the second half, as Sharron Francis (W. Lanham Hills, MD) and Tiffany Thompson (Clinton, MD) drained three pointers to help open up the game. The Lady Monarch's lead stretched to double digits and as many as 17 at one point, but the Tribe didn't fold, cutting the lead to 10 points on two occasions. Old Dominion's depth proved to be too much late in the game, however, and the Tribe finally bowed out.
Reserves Monique Coker (Bronx, NY) and Alli Spence (Lafayette, CO) provided valuable second-half contributions for Old Dominion. Coker finished the game with 12 points and five rebounds and Spence pitched in with six points, six assists and three steals. CAA Player of the Year Hamchetou Maiga (Bamako, Mali) was held to seven points and seven rebounds.
The Tribe was led by Quintina Walker with 12 and Jen Sobota (Latrobe, PA), who finished with 11 points.
William & Mary finishes the season at 10-19. Head coach Debbie Taylor was pleased with her team's effort against #1 seed Old Dominion.
"I was pleased with our hard work & overall effort against a tough team on their home court. We showed a lot of heart against a great team with a lot of depth."
Old Dominion will take on James Madison Saturday at 2 p.m. on HTS.