The Virginia women’s basketball team’s 2014-15 campaign came to an end Thursday night with a 69-62 loss to Old Dominion in the first round of the Women’s NIT.
With 6:16 remaining in the first half, the Cavaliers (17-14, 7-9 ACC) pulled within one, but their next four possessions resulted in three missed shots and a turnover, which allowed the Monarchs (21-12, 11-7 Conference USA) to go on a 9-0 run and take a 10-point lead. Virginia broke its scoring drought with two straight buckets, but Old Dominion answered and led 36-26 at halftime, as neither team scored in the last two minutes.
In the first half, the Monarchs made 50 percent of their shots, while scoring 10 points off Virginia’s 10 turnovers, including four steals. Old Dominion also held a slight rebounding advantage in the half, while scoring 18 points in the paint to Virginia’s eight. The Monarchs also scored six fast break points to the Cavaliers’ zero and blocked two of Virginia’s shots.
Old Dominion opened the second half with a three-pointer to extend its lead to 13 — its largest of the game. The Cavaliers dwindled down the lead to three with 9:03 remaining but never pulled any closer in the rest of the half, despite outscoring the Monarchs 36-33 with 20 points in the paint in the second half.
Old Dominion finished the game out-assisting and out-rebounding Virginia by five. The Cavaliers only got to the free throw line twice in the game, while the Monarchs attempted 14 free throws, 11 in the last 1:36.
Freshman guard Mikayla Venson led the way for Virginia with 19 points and six assists. Sophomore guard Breyana Mason added 17 points and six assists. Senior center Sarah Imovbioh contributed nine rebounds but was largely ineffective in the first half.
Sophomore forward Destinee Young led the Monarchs with 20 points, while sophomore forward Jennie Simms paced the team with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
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