‘Cats Make History, Net First Postseason Win, 82-73, in Opening Round of WNIT

Thursday, March 21

Norfolk, Va.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College

22-12

Old Dominion

19-12

Davidson

Old Dominion

Sophia Aleksandravicius registered her 50th career double-double in leading the Wildcats' to their first ever postseason victory.

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

‘Cats Make History, Net First Postseason Win, 82-73, in Opening Round of WNIT

3/21/2013 9:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Photo Gallery
Postgame Interview
DavidsonPhotos.com

NORFOLK, Va. – Senior Sophia Aleksandravicius dominated in the paint with her 20th double-double to pace four Wildcats in double figures and Davidson won the program's first postseason game with an 82-73 victory on the road at Old Dominion in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament Thursday evening at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

The two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year Aleksandravicius had 27 points and pulled in 11 rebounds for her 50th career double-double. She went a career-best 11-for-14 from the charity stripe as Davidson hit 20 shots at the line.

Laura Murray (16), Dakota Dukes (season-best tying 15) and Jasmine Calin (season-high 10) also registered double figures in points as Davidson moved to 22-12 on the season.

Barbara Sitton for the second game in a row hauled in double figures in rebounds, pulling in a career-best 11 on the defensive end. She also dished out seven assists and pocketed four steals.

Davidson as a team pulled in a season-high 57 rebounds, including a season-best 20 on the offensive glass. It also assisted on 21 of its 29 field goals.

The Wildcats will head back home to play cross-county rival Charlotte, which defeat Appalachian State in the first round, for a Sunday matchup at 2 p.m. in the second round of the WNIT.

ODU (19-12) put three players in double digits, led by Shae Kelley's 21 points. Stephanie Gardner had 15 and Galaisha Goodhope scored 11. The Monarchs, who had not played in 18 days, shot 40.8 percent for the game.

Davidson took control of the contest with a 17-4 run to close the first half that turned a 25-24 deficit with 9:44 remaining into a 41-29 lead at the break. Aleksandravicius and Calin had 11 and eights points, respectively, in the half.

Dukes helped push the lead out 16 (51-35) with six points in the first four minutes of the second half. An Aleksandravicius' and-one play two minutes later gave the Wildcats its biggest lead of the game at 58-40 when she swished home the free throw.

Old Dominion went on a 15-7 run to cut the deficit to 10 (65-55) with 7:48 on the clock. Kelley scored the final seven points of the spurt.

Davidson came right back, pushing its lead out to 74-59 on a pair of free throws from Katrin Chiemeka with 4:06 left and did not allow the lead to slip below 11 the rest of the way until the final score.

This is the Wildcats' second straight appearance in the WNIT and third-ever postseason appearance in school history.

GAME NOTES: Davidson has won 18 of its last 23 games … the Wildcats improved to 6-8 vs. non-conference foes this year … the 22 wins tie last year's total and are second-most in school history … Davidson scored 44 points in the paint … Aleksandravicius crossed the 100-block mark with a pair of swats, giving her a personal-best 101 … she holds seven career all-time records at Davidson … her 20-point outing was the 28th of her career.