Final Stats

ODU Box

Season Stats

RUSTON - Annika Holopainen wasn't a name circled on Louisiana Tech's scouting report entering Sunday afternoon's Conference USA match-up against Old Dominion.

In fact, her name wasn't even on the scouting report. Holopainen, a rarely utilized reserve on the Old Dominion bench, entered the contest having scored just 27 points in 24 games this season for the Lady Monarchs.

Tyler Summitt and the Lady Techsters (14-12, 9-6 C-USA) know who she is now. Holopainen came off the bench to score 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting and hit the game-winning three-pointer with 1.6 seconds to play to lift Old Dominion to a 72-71 win over Louisiana Tech before 2,722 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

"[Annika Holopainen] was not even on the scouting report," Summitt said. "She was averaging less than two points a game and then she comes out and scores 26. Credit to Old Dominion for putting her in and using her to be as effective as she was. We have to adjust.

"We came into this game trying to take away (Jennie) Simms, who averages about 20 points a game. I thought we did a good job to hold her to 6-19 shooting. I thought we did about as well as we could have done on her, but unfortunately if you take something away, you are going to give something else up. We gave up those three point shots."

Tech built an early lead. While ODU hit only 3 of its first 16 field goal attempts, the Lady Techsters were cruising as Chrisstasia Walter's layup at the 11:09 mark of the first half gave LA Tech a 20-8 advantage.

"I thought early we really did a good job of pushing the basketball in transition," Summitt said. "We got good looks and we knocked a lot of them down. I have to give credit to Old Dominion. That is about as good as I have seen them offensively. They played a great game and rose to the occasion."

Holopainen came to ODU's rescue. With Lady Monarch's trailing by double digits, the Helsinki, Finland native hit 8-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and scored 20 points as Old Dominion used a 34-18 run to close the half leading 42-38. However, she would save her biggest shot for the end.

In a game that saw 12 lead changes and six ties, Louisiana Tech rode a balanced scoring attack led by junior Brandi Wingate's career-high 21 points. Seniors Whitney Frazier and Kelia Shelton added 15 points and Walter 12 points while Frazier pulled down 10 rebounds to record the second double double of the season.

A Tiffany Minor three-pointer at the 5:35 mark of the second half gave the Lady Monarchs a 65-58 advantage, its biggest lead of the game. ODU entered the game shooting just 30 percent from beyond the arc, but the Lady Monarchs found the TAC rim's favorable, hitting 10-of-20 three-pointers.

Trailing by seven points and playing before numerous Lady Techster legends, including members of the 1993-94 national runner-up team, this LA Tech team didn't go down quietly. Wingate scored six points in a LA Tech run as her jumper in the lane with 1:33 to play tied the game at 67-67. Less than 30 seconds later, Frazier hit two free throws as Tech led 69-67.

Following a tying basket by Simms, Shelton answered once again for Tech, driving down the lane with the shot clock about to expire and hitting a floater in the lane for a 71-69 lead with 20 seconds to play.

That's when the game got even more interesting. ODU guard Ashley Betz-White drove baseline but had her shot blocked from behind by Walter. It appeared Shelton came out of the crowd with the loose basketball, but the outside official blew the whistle and ruled ODU had called a timeout. Tech's coaching staff argued that ODU never had possession but the Monarchs got another chance with eight seconds remaining.

After inbounding the basketball to Simms, the ball was knocked loose and a jump ball was called with 4.0 seconds to play. The possession arrow pointed towards ODU, once again, giving the Lady Monarch's life.

With one final chance, ODU inbounded the basketball into the corner to Holopainen, who buried the three-pointer with 1.6 seconds to play, giving ODU the 72-71 lead. Tech had one final chance but a desperation pass up the court was stolen away sealing the ODU win.

"Our players are very disappointed as you can imagine," Summitt said. "Their families are here, it is senior day, it is legends day and coach (Kim) Mulkey is here. It is a very hard loss. They understand that there were a lot of opportunities that we should have capitalized on. You are up 12 in the first half and you can put your foot down. We could have come out a little stronger in the second half. There are so many things that we can correct, and I think our players know that. The disappointment is going to be there."

Tech will return to action Thursday when it travels to face UTEP in El Paso. Despite the loss, LA Tech is still in fourth place in the C-USA standings, holding a half game lead over UTSA and Old Dominion.