Published: March 25, 2008 10:50 pm      

Monarchs eliminate Cavaliers

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The littlest player made the biggest shot for Old Dominion. Then one of the tallest made sure it would be enough to win a thrilling game.

Jazzmin Walters made a 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left in overtime Tuesday night, and Tiffany Green blocked an attempt at a tying 3-pointer just before the buzzer, giving the Lady Monarchs an 88-85 victory over Virginia and a trip to the Greensboro Regional.

Old Dominion (31-4) fell behind 85-81 in overtime, but closed the game on a 7-0 run. Walters started it with a free throw, Jessica Canady added a three-point play with 1:25 to go, and the 5-foot-2 Walters made a shot from her hip just before the shot-clock buzzer to send the Lady Monarchs’ crowd into a frenzy.

It got even louder when the 6-2 Green met Lyndra Littles at the top of the key and blocked her shot. Littles, who scored 29 points, collected the rejection and tried again, but her second effort came up well short and the wild contest was finished.

Virginia (24-10), which trailed almost all night, forced overtime when Aisha Mohammed was fouled with 1.8 seconds to go — on the Cavaliers’ sixth shot from in close on the possession — and she swished the free throw to extend the gave 5 more minutes.

Walters led Old Dominion with 17 points and 10 assists and committed just one turnover. T.J. Jordan added 14 points, Shahida Williams and Green had 13 each. Green also had 12 rebounds and six blocks. Canady added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Littles grabbed 14 rebounds, and Mohammed finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Sharnee Zoll scored 13 with nine assists in her final collegiate game, and Virginia’s best scorer, Monica Wright, had 11 on 5-for-17 shooting before she fouled out with 5:23 left.