Better's not enough for Lady Monarchs

GREENSBORO, N.C.

The Old Dominion Lady Monarchs were better - much better - than they were when they lost to Connecticut by 43 points four months ago in the Virgin Islands.

But better often isn't good enough when the Huskies are the opponent. That was the case in Sunday's Sweet 16 match-up at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Top-seeded UConn dismissed fifth-seeded ODU 78-63 in a game that wasn't that close most of the way.

The Lady Monarchs, down by as many as 28 points in the second half, staged a feverish rally to prevent the final margin from being as ghastly as the teams' November meeting, an 86-43 loss in the Paradise Jam.

Despite ODU's fervor and fight, the Huskies (35-1) were never in danger of missing Tuesday's regional final against Rutgers, the only team to beat them this season.

"Seeing them on TV and playing against them is a whole different story," said Jazzmin Walters, who was unable to rescue the Lady Monarchs the way she did with 17 points and 10 assists in Tuesday's second-round game against Virginia. "They're faster, more physical. And Maya Moore is a monster."

Moore, as versatile a player as the game has ever seen, finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Monarchs (31-5) never found their comfort zone against a team that refuses to let its opponent get too comfortable. The relentless Huskies, poised for a sixth national championship, score in clumps, make a quick team like ODU look a step slow and track down every loose ball as if it were a $100 bill on the ground.

"We had lapses," ODU's Megan Pym said. "You can't have little lapses against a team like UConn. They capitalize on every mistake."

The touch that Shahida Williams found on her shot - during a postseason that saw her average 16 points before Sunday - disappeared. Williams scored 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting, struggling from close range.

ODU never led but kept pace for the first 11 minutes, trailing 28-24 after Tiffany Green's putback with 9:09 left. The Lady Monarchs would never be as close again; Tina Charles began pounding it inside and the seemingly unstoppable Moore scored at will.

At the break, the Huskies led by 10, a manageable deficit compared to the 17-point one the Lady Monarchs faced in the Virgin Islands. But it grew in a hurry.

When T.J. Jordan opened the second half with a 3-pointer, exciting the crowd of 5,034 largely ODU fans, anything seemed possible. What ensued was a 20-1 UConn run that started with a Moore 3 and was followed by Brittany Hunter finishing 3 of 3 underneath.

"They got the ball into the post; Brittany Hunter did a great job," Jordan said. "In five straight possessions, we did nothing."

"We didn't work together like we have all season," ODU coach Wendy Larry said. "That was evidenced by us having five assists, with four of those coming in the first half."

After Renee Montgomery's 3-pointer put the Huskies ahead 72-45 with 9:49 left, UConn

did not make another field goal. That spell included an extended series when Tiffany Green, Jessica Canady, Jasmine Parker, Shadasia Green and Walters were on the floor together - possibly a preview of next year's starting five.

Tiffany Green finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Canady added 11 points and 10 boards.

But the inspired effort couldn't dig ODU out of its huge hole. The final buzzer marked the end of the careers of seniors Jordan, Pym and Williams, who helped bring ODU back to the national rankings after a six-year absence. The Sweet 16 appearance was ODU's first since 2002.

"Overall we had a good year, but we wanted to achieve more in the tournament," said Jordan, who will graduate as the CAA's career 3-point leader (323).

Williams fought back tears as she waved to the fans and left the court for the last time.

"A chapter closes," she said. "I will begin a new one tomorrow."

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net