Feb 26, 2025 by: Lauren Rivera-Galvez
NORFOLK, Va – ODU Women’s Basketball defeats No. 4 Coastal Carolina in fierce rematch in Conway, S.C. (81-65).
Starting seniors Brenda Fontana and Simone Cunningham were leaders for the Monarchs (17-13, 9-8 Sun Belt), making up a collective 42 points, and contributing to the 19-31 rebounds on the offensive and defensive ends. Double-doubles for both seniors helped send the Monarchs to their third straight victory.
Junior Kelsey Thompson, who also started for the Monarchs, was a superstar in the game as well as she assisted the team with 11 points with five rebounds, and four assists. En’Dya Burford, senior, also chipped in with eight points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (21-7, 11-6 Sun Belt) were hard-hitting in the first half of the match. Chants senior Jayden Marable kept up the back-and-forth game against the Monarchs with 12 points, two rebounds, one block, and one forced turnover, while CCU’s Jaylen Ponder had ten points, five rebounds, one forced turnover, and one steal.
Monarchs Junior, Simaru Fields shot and made a 3-pointer, grabbing the first points on the board, though the Chanticleers led the game at the end of the first 20-18 with the Monarchs out-scoring Coastal in the second quarter 30-19. A layup by Fontana, bringing the game to the first tie 20-20, has Marable responded with a 2-point layup. After CCU’s Kristin Williams went 3-3 in free throws, Sarah Hammock-Fitzgerald was fouled, which perked up the Monarchs. She went 1-2 in free throws with minutes to go.
Jumper by Thompson, layup by Cunningham, and a corner 3-point shot by junior Hama’ya Fielder tied the game 33-33 once again at the 4:28 mark.
As the clock was ticking to the buzzer for the half, both teams were eager for points as there were multiple fouls on each team. This was followed by a stretch of layups by Cunningham and CCU’s Savannah Brooks, which was closed with a 3-pointer by Fontana. Monarch’s Mariyah Clayton was fouled, sending her to the free throw line where she went 2-2, closing out the half with a Monarch lead of 48-39.
Carrying the momentum into the second half, two more 3-pointers from Fontana and one by Fields pushed the lead to 61-41 with 6:58 to go in the third. Neither side scored for over two minutes late in the quarter, but Thompson was able to go 2-2 free throws, and Cunningham’s layup beat the buzzer as ODU took a 70-48 lead into the final 10 minutes.
The Chanticleers were able to go on an 8-0 run midway through the fourth to catch up to ODU’s lead to 73-60 with 4:28 left in the game. Coastal’s Dawson Jemerson scored a layup to make it 75-62 with just over three minutes remaining, but the Monarch defense held the Chants until the final 20 seconds when Emilia Tenbrock completed an and-one point to end the back-and-forth game with the Monarchs taking the win 81-65.
“We did a great job of executing and just playing a great basketball game in a tough environment. Coastal Carolina lost one basketball game at home all year long, and for us to come here in the circumstances, it really says a lot about our growth” – Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones
Prior to this on-the-road win, the Monarchs were coming off a two-game win streak as they beat No. 2 Arkansas State (95-88) early last week, and Georgia Southern this past weekend (68-66).
ODU concludes the regular season this Friday at Georgia Southern. Tipoff at Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.
