Kickin’ It Far Post
No sweet 16 for the Monarchs
By John Galle, sports editor
Posted on February 5, 2007

The undefeated women’s basketball team finally sits alone atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings after handing rival Old Dominion a royal shellacking Thursday night, 79-50. 

But is this just another tease for JMU, who last season won 24 games, had a postseason WNIT appearance, but still could not take the hardware away from the Monarchs?

Not likely, if you listen to coach Kenny Brooks and his team.

The Dukes have a month of regular-season basketball left that includes eight CAA matchups. JMU has won its first 10 conference games this season, beating its opponents by an average of 18 points. With firepower like that and already at 18-2, Madison could easily outdo last season’s impressive record. Plus, the Dukes already know they can run the court with the big dogs, as they gave No. 2 Delaware and No. 3 Old Dominion their only conference losses of the season.

Add to that the confidence boost of an Associated Press Top-25 ranking and you have the new Madison women’s basketball team.

ODU got its chance to see the new JMU and left with its worst-ever CAA loss. The 29-point loss Thursday shattered its previous worst defeat of 14 (71-57) at East Carolina on Feb. 22, 1992.

Senior center Meredith Alexis was a big reason why.

Despite being doubled on a daily basis by defenses, Alexis found success against the Monarchs, knocking down a game-high 21 points. Junior guard Tamera Young and senior guard/forward Shirley McCall joined Alexis in double-figure scoring, with 15 points each.

The three seniors combined for more points than the entire ODU squad. The Dukes won it easily over an ODU team that has owned the CAA for the past 15 seasons. It was ODU’s 16th loss in 251 CAA regular-season games.

Momentum comes in many forms. A 29-point win over the reigning champs is one of them. The Dukes have now won 10 consecutive games and their 15th in their last 17 contests.

Question: Who wants to play JMU in the Convocation Center? Answer: No one.

With the win over ODU, the Dukes’ home winning streak has reached 23. And when the Dukes aren’t extending streaks of their own, they are ending them for their opponents.

Most recently, JMU snapped ODU’s nine-game winning streak Thursday and the Dukes have ended an opponent’s winning streak of five or more games seven other times this season.

Brooks has his team focused and even more dominant than last season, especially at home. And after losing to ODU last year in the CAA championship game, there is only one goal and one way for Madison to go, as it has yet to lose in conference since then.

When it’s all said and done, the Monarchs of Old Dominion will not be hoisting the CAA trophy this year. Instead, their dominating run of 15-straight titles will end and the championship will be up for grabs. With a senior-laden squad and all the momentum in the world, the time is now for JMU.

John Galle is a senior SMAD major concentrating in print journalism.