THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511260212
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
After Old Dominion dismantled Radford in the opening round of the Dial Classic women's basketball tournament, Lady Monarchs head coach Wendy Larry said her team looked a little sluggish out of the blocks.
She could have fooled the Highlanders.
The Lady Monarchs outhustled their opponents on the glass, harassed them on defense and shot over 50 percent from the field to take an impressive 92-58 win over Radford on Saturday at the ODU field house.
It was ODU's highest point total in a season opener since the Lady Monarchs scored 94 against Georgetown in 1983.
``I'm not sure why we were fatigued, but we haven't played a game in a while,'' said Larry, whose team takes on the winner of the Georgia-Southern Methodist game in the tournament final today at 3 p.m. ``I thought we did some good things on the glass.''
The Lady Monarchs outrebounded Radford 48-25 and held the Highlanders to 33 percent shooting from the field (19 for 57).
Forward Clarisse Machanguana led all scorers with 20 points. Sarah Willyerd added 16 and Shonda Deberry scored 12 for ODU.
The Lady Monarchs came out aggressive from the opening tip, running out to a 10-4 lead. Dede Logemann scored the next two baskets to pull Radford within two, but that was as close as the Highlanders would get as ODU reeled off the next nine points to regain control.
With the defense, which forced 16 turnovers in the opening period, in high gear, the Lady Monarchs scored 11 of the last 14 points and led 46-22 at the half.
``Our turnovers are a tribute to ODU's defense. They got in the passing lanes and got after it,'' said Radford coach Luby Lichonczak, who was a Lady Monarchs assistant coach from 1985 to 1987. ``We knew coming in that Old Dominion is a tough ballclub.''
The second half didn't get much better for the Highlanders. Ticha Penicheiro's 3-pointer with 13:17 left to play gave ODU a 31-point lead at 60-29. The Lady Monarchs kept their lead in the high 20s courtesy of the 3-pointer and free throw shooting - four different players hit from long range and the team shot 75 percent from the line - and Misty Hart put the team over the 40-point mark, 90-50, on a short jumper with 2:20 left.
``We've got a different look this year as far as offense goes, but it suits our personality. It's more creative,'' Willyerd said. ``Our defense wasn't where it needs to be, but we'll have to step that up tomorrow.''
Sophomore Mery Andrade got a surprise start for ODU at forward and finished with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. by CNB