NORFOLK, Va. Ƶ Old DominionƵs performance Saturday was similar to snowfall in that depth mattered.
The MonarchsƵ bench outscored MarshallƵs 17-3 in an 80-75 Old Dominion victory in womenƵs college basketball at Chartway Arena.
Although the MonarchsƵ reserves went just 5 for 16, it was enough to be the difference, especially with the Thundering Herd being shorthanded because of illness and injuries. Of the 200 player minutes, MU backups played just 26, compared to 49 for Old Dominion.
ƵAdversity kept coming our way,Ƶ Marshall coach Juli Fulks said. ƵThe flu has been going through our team. We have some injuries. IƵm really proud of the effort.Ƶ
The maladies led to 5-foot-10 junior forward Blessing King making her first start of the season. The transfer from Morehead State scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds, making 5 of 8 shots.
ƵBlessing has had a really good week,Ƶ Fulks said after the Herd dipped to 5-11 and 0-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. ƵShe earned (the chance to start). We have some people not feeling well at that position. She did a really good job adapting to the situation and adjusting.Ƶ
Old Dominion led for 33:46 of the 40-minute contest, never trailing after EnƵDya BufordƵs 3-pointer at 4:19 of the first quarter broke a 13-13 tie. The Herd hung close throughout, trailing 44-38 at halftime and by nine in the third quarter.
Marshall used a 13-5 run to pull within 56-55 on Aislynn HayesƵ basket at 2:27 of the third period. The contest remained a two-possession game until Buford sank a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left in the game to make it 80-72. Maddie Kellione swished a 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play to set the score.
ƵIt kind of sounds like a broken record,Ƶ Fulks said of MUƵs five-game losing streak. ƵWe get so close and canƵt find a way to win.Ƶ
Hayes finished with 21 points. Meredith Maier scored 17 and Kellione tallied 15.
Kelsey Thompson, a 5-10 guard from Montgomery, Alabama, paced the Monarchs with 20 points, making 7 of 10 shots, 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Buford scored 17 points, pulled down nine rebounds and made nine assists. Brenda Fontana chipped in 10 points.
Old Dominion won the rebounding battle 42-30, negating the HerdƵs shooting edge. Marshall made 27 of 60 shots (45%) to the MonarchsƵ 25 of 47 effort (47.3%). Each team made 12 shots from beyond the arc.
Both squads return to action Wednesday Ƶ Marshall at 6 p.m. versus James Madison (13-4, 5-0) at Cam Henderson Center; Old Dominion (12-5, 4-1) at 6:30 at home against Appalachian State.
