ODU women near 17th straight league title

NEWARK, Del.

If Wendy Larry isn’t reviewing statistics, she’s not one to reflect on numbers. But, hard as the Old Dominion coach tried Saturday, she couldn’t avoid the topic following the Lady Monarchs’ 74-51 defeat of Towson in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament semifinals at the Carpenter Center.

No wonder, when you consider the figures:

- The victory was Larry’s 500th in her career at ODU.

- ODU improved to 49-0 in the conference tournament.

- The Lady Monarchs, who meet third-seeded Virginia Commonwealth in today’s 12:30

p.m. final, are seeking a 17th straight CAA tournament title. They have already beaten the Rams twice this season – both times by 20 points – but Larry said with all earnestness, “We don’t talk about that.”

As for the coaching milestone, Larry quipped, “It means you’re old,” though she reluctantly took a few minutes to ponder on all those wins. “I was told a long time ago, if you start keeping track, they don’t come.”

In the initial five minutes against the upstart Tigers, top-seeded ODU (28-4) let its game do the talking, embarking on an 11-0 run that included four points from Shahida Williams and a 3 from T.J. Jordan.

“I just came out with the mind-set that I’m a senior and I’ve been here before,” said Williams, who scored a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds and five steals. “I wanted to try to give my all today so we could see tomorrow.”

Towson (22-10) wilted under the relentless pressure that has defined the Larry style for several hundred of those victories at her alma mater. ODU rolled ahead 20-8 and 34-14; the Tigers attempted to rediscover the offense that helped them rally past Drexel the night before.

“They did what great teams do,” Tigers coach Joe Mathews said. “You might know they’re going to do it, but you still can’t stop them from executing it. The first five minutes, they set the tone.”

Towson countered, just as UNC Wilmington did a day earlier, after a sloppy start to the second half saw ODU’s advantage shrink to 40-32. But quick baskets by Jessica Canady restored order for the Lady Monarchs, who got another lift from Megan Pym.

The senior, slowed by her recovery from a concussion sustained March 2 against James Madison, scored 11 second-half points, including seven straight in one spurt. ODU outscored Towson 19-7 in the final 5:41.

“The coaches told me I had to relax,” Pym said. “We have so many great players who can contribute. That’s what makes this team so good.”

Larry used every player on her bench, subbing liberally as opposed to VCU, which had three starters play 39 minutes or more. Jordan scored 12 and Canady scored 10. Shanae Baker-Brice led Towson with 14 points.

Though Larry dismissed

No. 500, many in the crowd didn’t, waving signs and presenting her with flowers .

“You have a vision of what you want a basketball team to do year in and year out, and you’re pretty fortunate when you get people to buy into your system,” Larry said. “Then you get special assistants who make things happen behind the curtain. Then you just hope and pray you’re doing a lot of the right things.”

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