(Norfolk, Va.) – Coming in as a heavy underdog, the Delaware State women's basketball team (0-1) began its 2013-14 season with a 97-67 defeat on the road at the hands of Old Dominion (1-0), behind Stephanie Gardner's career-high 21 points for the Lady Monarchs.
To begin the game, the Lady Hornets jumped out to a 6-5 lead, which forced a 30-second timeout by ODU with 1:36 gone by.
After the timeout, the Lady Monarchs went on an 8-2 run to regain the lead, headlined by back-to-back three pointers from Gardner, who also scored 13 of ODU's first 15 points to begin the game.
As the half continued, ODU pushed its lead to double figures after two free throws made by forward Chelisa Painter with 8:21 left.
Then, the Lady Monarchs extended their lead after a three by guard Galaisha Goodhope to make it a 38-23 ball game with less than six minutes to play.
With the Lady Hornets trying to weather storm before halftime, ODU continued its hot shooting from behind the arc when guard LaQuanda Younger and Goodhope drained back-to-back threes to give the Lady Monarchs their biggest lead of the game, 47-23, at the 4:01 mark.
At the half, ODU closed the period on 18-5 run, as DSU went into the locker room down 53-28.
Offensively, the Lady Monarchs shot 8-for-15 (.500) from three-point range, led by Gardner's 3-for-5 effort on her way to tallying 14 points.
Under intense pressure, the Hornets committed 14 turnovers, while also being out-rebounded, 27-21. However, guard Raven Bankston went 5-for-7 (.714) from the field to lead DSU, including two three pointers for a team-high 12 points.
In the second stanza, Delaware State cut the deficit under 20 at 67-47 at the 12:38 mark after a layup by Rav. Bankston.
Nevertheless, the Monarchs denied DSU and did not look back after going on a 10-0 run for their largest lead of the game with 8:52 left in regulation.
When the final buzzer sounded, ODU out-rebounded the Hornets, 56-40, along with totaling 31 second chance points. From behind the arc, meanwhile, the Monarchs went 11-for-26 (.423), whereas DSU went 3-for-9 (.333).
The bright spot for DSU offensively, on the other hand, featured three players finishing in double figures, led by Rav. Bankston (8-of-12) and forward Tierra Hawkins (7-of-16) both finishing with 18 points. Hawkins also added eight rebounds, while guard Raine Bankston chipped in with 11 (3-of-11) points and three assists.
Also, turning in a solid performance was forward Deanna Harmon with a team-high 11 rebounds, to go along with nine (3-of-6) points.
Coming up next, the Red & Columbia Blue will look to bounce back this Thursday (8 p.m.) on the road against Vanderbilt.
