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NORFOLK , Va. – As junior D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga.) put it, “We know we’re on the verge of doing something great, but in order to do that we have to find ways to step up when the game is on the line.” That pretty much summed up the night for the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s basketball team as the Rams, who led for the majority of the second half, suffered a tough defeat at the hands of perennial Colonial Athletic Association power, Old Dominion, 69-68 on Monday evening. Four players scored in double-figures led by senior Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va.), who notched her 43rd career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Moss finished with 15, while junior Kita Waller (Gainesville, Ga.) and freshman Jennifer Lane (Wichita, Kan.) chipped in 12 and 10 points respectively. Tiffany Green was the answer early on for the Lady Monarchs scoring eight points to spark ODU to an early 14-4 advantage with 14:51 on the first half clock. Seven points from Moss ignited the Rams offense as VCU climbed within three at 16-13 with 11:45 remaining before halftime. The Lady Monarchs weathered the storm and a three-pointer from Margaret Harvey gave Old Dominion its biggest lead of the game at 31-20 with 5:56 to play in the first half. From there, the youngsters took over for the Black and Gold as Lane and classmate Courtney Hurt (Loganville, Ga.) combined for 11 points in the final five minutes as VCU put together a 13-2 run to close out the half and send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 33-33. Out of the gate it was a battle as neither team led by more than two points until Jasmine Parker drilled a three-pointer from the wing to give the Lady Monarchs a four-point lead at 48-44 with 14:37 left in regulation. Hollingsworth had had enough and took over the game scoring 10 of VCU’s next 12 points and ignited a 10-2 run that enabled the Black and Gold to claim its biggest lead of the game at 62-54 with 5:13 remaining in the contest. Slowly, ODU chipped away and Parker struck again with 0:46 left in the game, knocking down a three-pointer to bring the Lady Monarchs within one at 68-67. After the Rams missed a lay-up, Jazzmin Walters was able to corral an offense rebound and knock down two free-throws to give the Lady Monarchs a 69-68 lead with 11 seconds left. VCU was never able to get a good look as the Black and Gold suffered its 12th straight loss to Old Dominion, the last two by a combined eight points. “I’m proud of the way our kids battled tonight, but you have to give them the credit for once again stepping up and making the big shots,” Head Coach Beth Cunningham said. “I just hope we can use this game as a perfect demonstration of the little things that make the difference between winning and losing.” The Rams used sharp-shooting in the second half to make their run with a blistering 53.6% from the field in the second-half and 42.6% on the evening. ODU knocked down 40% from the field, but the difference came behind the arc as the Lady Monarchs were able to connect on five three-pointers compared to none for VCU. Green led Old Dominion with 15 points before fouling out late in the second half, while Parker and Walters both finished with 11 points apiece. The Rams return to the hardwood on Thursday evening as they host the Patriots of George Mason University in a 7 p.m. conference tilt.
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