STATESBORO - Old Dominion's Jordan McLaughlin hit a driving layup with four seconds remaining to give the Monarchs an 84-82 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball overtime victory over host Georgia Southern on Thursday evening at Hanner Fieldhouse.
In the first meeting between the two new Sun Belt rivals, the Monarchs (11-7, 3-2 SBC) took the win by forcing 20 Eagle turnovers and also dominating the offensive glass. Georgia Southern falls to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt with the loss.
Georgia Southern shot 75 percent on two-point baskets in the first half in building a 43-39 lead at the break. Old Dominion opened the second half on an 11-5 run over the first three minutes and the game was a back-and-forth affair after that, with seven lead changes and 13 ties.
At the end of regulation, Lydia Freeman made one of two free throws with 16 seconds left to tie the game at 74-all, which is where it would stay into overtime.
The Eagles won the opening tip of overtime and got a layup from CeCe Thomas to take a 76-74 lead, but Georgia Southern did not make another field goal until an offensive rebound and a putback by Freeman with seven seconds left again tied the game at 82-all. McLaughlin scored the game-winner off of an inbounds play in the frontcourt and the Eagles went for the win with their final possession, but Ja'nya Love-Hill's three-pointer missed to the right.
Terren Ward led the Eagles with 20 points on the evening, while Love-Hill finished with 10 points. All five starters scored in double figures for the Monarchs, led by Makayla Dickens' 17 points.
Eagle of the Game
Freeman played a career-high 22 minutes, hitting 4-of-6 shots from the floor for nine points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. The Eagles were +6 when Freeman was on the floor for the game.
Stats of the Game
Old Dominion outrebounded the Eagles on the offensive glass by a 25-11 margin, putting up 22 more shots than Georgia Southern in the contest thanks to the extra possessions. The overall 53-42 rebounding margin in ODU's favor was just the second time this season that Georgia Southern has been outrebounded by an opponent.
Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on the final play of overtime and the game in general
"The play was for [Le'Andrea] Gillis, but it was a heady play by Love-Hill [to take the shot]. They doubled Gillis, and I thought she got a good shot off, she just missed it. Turnovers and free throws [13-of-28] were the difference. Hats off to Old Dominion for coming in here and not giving up. I'm not pleased with our play, but we will continue to learn and get better."
Next Up
Georgia Southern returns to action on Saturday, hosting Appalachian State in a 2 p.m. Sun Belt contest at Hanner Fieldhouse.
