NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — The Old Dominion Lady Monarchs used a dominant defensive performance and a game-high 18 points from En’Dya Buford to pull away from the Appalachian State Mountaineers for a 65-54 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at the Constant Convocation Center.

The game’s decisive stretch came late in the second quarter and established a pattern the Mountaineers could not overcome. Leading 17-15 with under three minutes to play in the half, Old Dominion clamped down, forcing three Appalachian State turnovers in a two-minute span. The Lady Monarchs converted those miscues into a 10-0 run to close the quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Buford at the buzzer off an assist from Mariah Clayton. That sequence turned a two-point contest into a 27-15 halftime advantage for the home team.

Appalachian State, which shot just 29.6% from the field for the game, never recovered from that defensive onslaught. The Mountaineers committed 19 turnovers, which Old Dominion converted into 18 points. Conversely, the Lady Monarchs gave the ball away only eight times. The steal differential was stark, with Old Dominion recording 13 steals to Appalachian State’s four.

Buford, who played 33 minutes, was the offensive catalyst for Old Dominion, adding two assists to her scoring output. Simone Cunningham provided crucial support with 11 points, two assists and a block. The Lady Monarchs improved to 11-7 overall.

Appalachian State was led by Jayden McBride, a 5-foot-10 guard from Erie, Pennsylvania, who scored 15 points. Emma Smith of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, added 11 points and a team-high four assists, while Daisia Mitchell of Riverside, California, contributed 11 points and two blocks. The Mountaineers fell to an even 8-8 on the season.

Despite the loss, Appalachian State showed resilience in the fourth quarter, outscoring Old Dominion 20-18, but the hole dug in the first half proved too deep. The Mountaineers struggled mightily from beyond the arc, making only 5 of 25 attempts, while Old Dominion hit 6 of 23. A bright spot for the visitors was their work at the free-throw line, where they went 17 for 22.

Old Dominion’s offensive efficiency was a key factor, as they scored 65 points on just 65 possessions for an offensive rating of 100.3. Appalachian State managed only 54 points on 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 76.7. The Lady Monarchs also shared the ball effectively, tallying 13 assists to the Mountaineers’ four.

The attendance was announced at 1,569. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Old Dominion entered the game with a 76.30 percent probability to win.

Appalachian State looks to rebound on the road against Georgia State this Saturday. Old Dominion remains at home to host Marshall on Saturday.