Lady Monarchs edge Rams

NORFOLK -- Once again, the Virginia Commonwealth University women's basketball team failed to close a blockbuster deal.

Old Dominion's Lady Monarchs, the winners of 17 consecutive Colonial Athletic Association championships, rallied from an eight-point deficit with just under four minutes to play and a four-point deficit with less than a minute remaining to stun VCU 69-68 last night in the CAA opener for both teams.

"First of all, it was a matter of belief," ODU coach Wendy Larry said. "Never at any point did we stop believing that we were going to win." In addition to faith, Larry said, "we found something else tonight. We found chutzpah for the first time" this season.

"I'll be honest: There have been a couple of situations this season when this team has given up. Tonight we didn't give up. We kept fighting and fighting and fighting and fighting."

ODU's biggest shots were delivered by its smallest players. Guard Jasmine Parker, a 5-6 sophomore, buried a long 3-pointer from the right wing to cut the Rams' lead to 68-67 with 46.9 seconds to play. Guard Jazzmin Walters, a 5-2 senior, sank a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining to put ODU in front for the first time since the midpoint of the second half.

VCU guard Kita Waller missed a 14-foot pull-up jumper from the right baseline with three seconds remaining.

VCU, which watched the Lady Monarchs erase an 18-point deficit to win last season's CAA tournament title game, flirted with significant history. VCU (0-1, 10-3) hasn't won in Norfolk since the 1972-73 season. Moreover, Old Dominion (1-0, 6-5) entered the contest with a 34-game winning streak at home in the CAA.

The Lady Monarchs conquered significant adversity before turning their attention to VCU's eight-point second-half lead. Starting forward Jessica Canady didn't play because of a thumb injury. Post player Tiffany Green missed big chunks of both halves because of foul trouble. She played only 25 minutes before fouling out with 2:02 remaining.

Said Rams coach Beth Cunningham: "[Old Dominion] is amazing. They're just amazing. What else can you say? You don't know who it's going to be, but someone always seems to step up and make plays for them. Always. They know how to win, and they always seem to find a way to win."

Green led the Lady Monarchs with 15 points. Walters and Parker added 11 apiece. Post player Quanitra Hollingsworth and forward D'Andra Moss scored 18 and 15, respectively, for VCU.

After playing so well for so long in the second half, VCU missed three shots from point-blank range and three of five free throws in the final four minutes.

Said Cunningham: "It's a fine line that separates winning from losing. I can't think of a better example than this game."

VCU (68)

Waller 12, Bachvarova 2, Hollingsworth 18, Lane 10, Rorie 4, Solomon 0, Taylor 0, Moss 15, Hurt 7. Totals: 26 16-24 68.

OLD DOMINION (69)

Buchan 7, S. Green 8, T. Green 15, Walters 11, Nuzzo 7, Parker 11, Voronina 0, Harvey 3, Little 5, Collier 2. Totals: 24 16-24 69. 3-point goals: Parker 3, Nuzzo, Harvey.

Halftime: 33-33

A: 2,702