Miami: ODU toughest team we've played all year

Old Dominion may not have beaten No. 18 Miami Sunday, but it sounds as though the Lady Monarchs made believers out of Hurricanes coach Katie Meier.

"I will write the Old Dominion coach (Karen Barefoot)," Meier said in a Miami Herald story. "She is very good. I let her and her team know in the handshake line. They were the toughest team we've played all year...they were the caliber of an ACC team. And Jennie Simms is one of the best players in the country. They're a tough package."

Miami's schedule thus far has included nationally ranked Kentucky and Ohio State along with St. John's and Texas Tech.

The Lady Monarchs (3-3) led by two at halftime Sunday and were down just three through three quarters before the Hurricanes (7-1) surged to their seventh straight win. Simms finished with a game-high 24 points and Destinee Young added 13 points and 12 rebounds. In addition, freshman forward Manaya Jones made her first start and contributed nine points and nine rebounds.

Old Dominion will look to sustain this level - or better yet, to build on it - when the Lady Monarchs host VCU Friday.