Thanks to a strong final five minutes Saturday, the Old Dominion women enjoyed a celebratory return trip from the Sunshine State.
Down by eight points with less than five minutes to go, ODU responded by zooming to a 77-72 victory at Florida Atlantic. The triumph gave ODU (5-3, 2-2 Conference USA) a two-game, two-day sweep of the Owls (2-6, 0-4) in Boca Raton.
ODU’s Ajah Wayne made 8 of her 12 field-goal attempts and had 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Teammates Amari Young had 17 points and eight rebounds, while Maggie Robinson added 13 points and Aziah Hudson 12 points.
Amber Gaston provided FAU 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Iggy Allen had 16 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists.
ODU led 26-16 after the first quarter, but FAU surged to go ahead by as many as eight in the second quarter and retained the lead until Hudson sank a 3-pointer with 2:59 to go, putting the Monarchs on top to stay, 69-67. Two free throws apiece by Victoria Morris and Robinson capped the decisive 18-2 run for a 77-69 lead, which followed ODU’s 71-56 victory Friday.
ODU next will play at home Friday and next Saturday in a series against Rice.
ODU 77, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 72
OLD DOMINION (5-3, 2-2 C-USA): Adams 2-7 1-2 5, Robinson 5-6 2-2 13, Young 6-15 5-9 17, Wayne 8-12 3-6 19, Morris 2-9 5-7 9, Smith 1-4 0-0 2, Hudson 4-7 0-0 12, Totals 28-60 16-26 77.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (2-6, 0-4): Pleskevich 5-13 3-4 15, Tylka 2-6 0-0 6, Galeron 1-4 0-0 3, Allen 7-16 2-2 16, Zaph 4-10 5-6 13, Gaston 7-11 2-4 16, Ozola 0-1 3-6 3, Totals 26-61 15-22 72.
ODU 26, 12, 18, 21—77
FAU 16, 27, 18, 11—72
3-point goals—ODU 5-13 (Adams 0-1, Robinson 1-1, Morris 0-3, Smith 0-1, Hudson 4-7), FAU 5-19 (Pleskevich 2-7, Tylka 2-3, Galeron 1-1, Allen 0-3, Zaph 0-5). Rebounds—ODU 42 (Wayne 12), FAU 32 (Gaston 7). Assists— ODU 16 (Smith 5), FAU 14 (Allen, Zaph, Ozola 4). Fouls—ODU 19, FAU 24.
