Old Dominion’s women’s basketball team faced a disappointing start to their Sun Belt Conference schedule, falling to Troy with a final score of 81-59 on Education Day. The game, held at Chartway Arena, attracted a lively crowd of 5,278 students, eager to support their team.
The Monarchs (7-4, 0-1 SBC) struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, never taking the lead against the Trojans (10-1, 1-0 SBC). Troy capitalized on a strong finish in the second quarter and a dominant third quarter to pull away.
Assistant coach Roland Jones Jr. emphasized the importance of upcoming home games in the Sun Belt schedule, stating, “Our next Sun Belt game is January 1, which is not that far away, we need to win. Our first three games in the Sun Belt are at home; those games are ones that you have to win.”
The match began with an unusual turn of events when Troy was granted an administrative technical free throw due to malfunctioning backboard lights before the opening tip-off. Leilani Guion successfully converted the free throw, giving Troy an early 3-0 lead. ODU’s Nevaeh Scott quickly responded to score, but the Trojans established their dominance with a swift 9-1 run.
Despite En’Dya Buford’s efforts, including a three-pointer that closed the gap to 10-8, Troy extended their lead. After a competitive first quarter, the Monarchs finished strong with a series of critical shots to end the period only trailing by five at 19-14.
Troy opened the second quarter aggressively, pushing their lead to double digits. ODU managed to inch closer, with a late surge cutting the deficit to just one point at 28-27. However, a late 11-2 run by Troy reestablished their commanding lead heading into halftime at 42-29.
The second half continued with Troy asserting control, outscoring the Monarchs 19-12 in the third quarter and stretching their lead to as many as 24 points. Although ODU managed to capture the momentum towards the end of the period with an 11-8 run, they still faced a daunting 61-41 scoreline going into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, ODU fought back slightly, winning the period 12-9, but it was not enough to change the game’s outcome. Despite the loss, Jones Jr. highlighted the enjoyment the event brought to the students and the hopefulness for the future. “These games are the one game of the year where it’s so fun to see the kids having a great time,” he said.
Ultimately, the Monarchs’ performance saw them shooting just 34.3 percent from the field and struggling with rebounds, losing that battle 52-40. Simaru Fields led the team with 10 points, while Buford and Riley Stack contributed with nine points and a season-high nine rebounds, respectively.
Old Dominion will have a chance to regroup and bounce back as they prepare for their next Sun Belt game on January 1.