Women’s Basketball shatters ODU 35 game confernce winning streak

For the first time since Dec. 8, 1992, VCU Women’s Basketball defeated the Lady Monarchs of Old Dominion University. Not only was this the first victory for the Rams against the Monarchs in more than a decade, it also was the first time the Lady Monarchs had been beaten in their last 35 Colonial Athletic Association appearances. This win also marks the second win in history the Rams have against the Lady Monarchs since VCU’s program’s start in 1975.

The loss to VCU marks the eighth ODU conference loss since the year they joined, 1991.

In a stunning upset, VCU (9-10, 6-4 CAA) beat ODU (11-8, 8-1 CAA) 67-56.

Three VCU players turned in double-digit points for the Rams. Guard Cyndy Wilks led the team with 22 points. Wilks went 7-17, including three three-pointers, while shooting 5-6 from the free throw line. Forward Maria Giovannetti was just slightly behind Wilks, with 20 points, going 6-14 including two three-point field goals and shooting 6-6 from the line. The third player to reach double digits was forward Kristine Austgulen, who earned her 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 boards. Austgulen went 5-8 from the floor. Giovannetti grabbed the second highest number of rebounds on the team with seven, just behind Austgulen.

The Lady Monarchs had two players scoring in the double digits. Guard Okeisha Howard led the team with 15 points, going 5-16 with one three-pointer. Guard Shareese Grant had 11 for ODU. Monique Coker led the Monarchs with eight rebounds.

ODU scored the first two points of the game but did not hold a lead for the rest of the game. VCU went on an 11-3 run afterward. Three minutes before the end of the first half Wilks landed a three-pointer to put the Rams up 14 points. This would be their largest lead of the game. Heading into the locker room VCU was up by 10 points, 34-24.

VCU widened their lead in the beginning of the second half, thanks to Wilks, who landed an early lay-up.

The Monarchs responded by collecting seven points, but the Rams went on a 6-0 run immediately after. Twelve minutes into the second half VCU was up 46-34. ODU would come as close as six points with less than five minutes remaining in the contest, but VCU made nine straight free throws in the final minutes of play.

VCU shot 21-49(42.9 percent) for the night while ODU shot 20-47 (42.6 percent).

VCU turned the ball over 17 times but ODU had 22. VCU had a total of 34 rebounds to ODU’s 29.

Women’s Basketball faces Hofstra next, in Hampstead, N.Y. The game is scheduled for Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.