THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702080625
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 63 lines
Every time Old Dominion center Nyree Roberts steps on the floor lately, she's flirting with setting a career high of some sort.
Friday night in the Lady Monarchs' 77-49 victory over James Madison, Roberts put up a best-ever 26 points before a standing-room only crowd of 4,984 at the ODU field house. That bettered the 25 points she scored twice last week against VCU and Richmond.
But points - at least the kind that come from layups and jump shots - weren't what the junior banger wanted to talk about afterward. Roberts was in the mood to chat about free throws, generally a topic she'd rather avoid. Roberts, who came into the game hitting 48 percent from the foul line - the worst mark for any starter, netted 6 of 7 against the Dukes.
``I am really impressed with that,'' said Roberts, who had a career-high 17 rebounds a few weeks ago. ``I could have had 7 for 7, but I slipped up on one. I was really impressed with that, honestly. I know what to do; I just haven't been doing it. It's just mental, not physical, so I know I can make 'em.''
The win made second-ranked ODU 20-1 overall, 10-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association and sent JMU (14-6, 5-5) to a fifth loss in its last seven games. The Dukes, who started the seaon 7-0, have slumped since losing to ODU 78-53 on Jan. 17 in Harrisonburg.
Neither team generated much offense early, with ODU up 15-8 at the 7:28 mark in the first half. From there, the Lady Monarchs spurted to a 21-6 run, capped by Mery Andrade's 3-pointer at the buzzer.
During the run, Clarisse Machanguana, who missed ODU's last two gamess because of pneumonia, scored seven of her 15 points. The senior post player saw 23 minutes of action and was 5 of 9 from the field, but 5 of 10 from the line.
``I thought I'd be really tired, but I feel great,'' she said.
Roberts, who is 60 points away from totaling her 1,000th, scored 12 of ODU's first 14 in the second half en route to a lead that grew to 34. And while many opposing coaches have been quick to praise All-American candidates Machanguana and Ticha Penicheiro and overlook Roberts, that wasn't the case with JMU's Shelia Moorman.
``As soon as they entered CAA play, she was been just awesome, scoring, rebounding, presence inside,'' Moorman said.
Former Salem High Star and JMU freshman Misty Colebank, who played 24 minutes and led the Dukes in turnovers with seven, said she liked the experience of guarding Penicheiro, whom she considered the best point guard in the country. Colebank finished with four points, and Kish Jordan led JMU with nine.
The Dukes' leading scorer Sarah Schreib, averaging 12.6, didn't land a shot until 8:26 remained in the second half and finished with seven. JMU committed 29 turnovers and was outrebounded by 11.
ODU coach Wendy Larry said her team still isn't 100-percent healthy, with every player taking antibiotics to fend off the bug that sidelined Machanguana. Penicheiro, battling congestion a week ago, scored only four points, but led the team in assists (9) and rebounds (9). ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Lady Monarchs Mery Andrade, left, and Clarisse Machanguana leave
little doubt about who's in charge of this rebound.
ODU's Ticha Penicheiro, guarded by James Madison's Akosua Demann, is
poised to pass off for one of her nine assists.