NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — A dominant defensive performance by Riley Stack and a relentless offensive attack in the paint propelled the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs to a decisive 85-62 victory over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at the Constant Convocation Center.

Stack, a 6-foot-4 junior from Piedmont, South Carolina, was the game’s most impactful player, recording 22 points, seven blocked shots and two steals in just 26 minutes. Her presence around the rim stifled the Warhawks’ offense throughout the contest, setting the tone for a Lady Monarchs defense that forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 20 points.

Old Dominion improved to 13-9 on the season, while Louisiana-Monroe fell to 8-12.

The Lady Monarchs seized control early and never relented. After a brief 2-2 tie, Old Dominion embarked on a 14-2 run, fueled by Stack’s interior play. She scored six points during the surge, which included a transition jumper off her own steal. The Warhawks struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Old Dominion’s pressure, committing five turnovers in the first quarter alone. The period ended with the Lady Monarchs leading 18-10.

The second quarter saw Louisiana-Monroe’s Nakiyah Mays-Prince attempt to keep her team within reach. She scored eight of her team-high 19 points in the frame, including a pair of three-pointers. However, every Warhawks push was met with an immediate response from Old Dominion. The Lady Monarchs shot a blistering 64% from the field in the quarter, with En’Dya Buford and Simaru Fields combining for 13 points. A late flurry by Stack, who scored four points in the final 38 seconds, sent Old Dominion into halftime with a commanding 43-30 advantage.

The game’s decisive stretch came early in the third quarter. After a Fields three-pointer extended the lead to 19, Stack swatted away consecutive shot attempts by Louisiana-Monroe’s J’Mani Ingram. The defensive stands ignited the Old Dominion offense, which scored on its next two possessions to push the lead to 50-32. The Warhawks would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way. Old Dominion’s dominance inside was staggering, outscoring Louisiana-Monroe 50-28 in the paint and outrebounding them 48-38 overall, including a 15-7 edge on the offensive glass.

While Stack anchored the defense, the Lady Monarchs’ backcourt provided a balanced and efficient offensive attack. Buford finished with 15 points and a game-high seven assists, expertly managing the offense. Fields added 15 points and five assists, and Simone Cunningham chipped in 12 points. The team’s offensive rating of 99.0 on 86 possessions underscored a night of high-percentage basketball, as they shot 48.5% from the field.

Louisiana-Monroe was led by the efforts of Mays-Prince, who added four assists to her 19 points, and Marcavia Shavers, who tallied 15 points and nine rebounds. The Warhawks, however, were plagued by poor shooting all night, connecting on just 31% of their field goal attempts and 54.2% of their free throws. Their offensive rating of 72.6 reflected the difficulty of operating against Stack and the Old Dominion defense.

The victory was a return to form for Stack, who had been held to six points in a loss to Arkansas State just a week prior. Her seven blocks were a season high and marked a dominant defensive resurgence. For Old Dominion, the win provided momentum as they look ahead to a Saturday home matchup against Southern Mississippi. Louisiana-Monroe continues its road trip with a visit to Appalachian State on Saturday.

An announced crowd of 2,503 watched the Lady Monarchs lead for over 39 minutes of game time, with the outcome never seriously in doubt after the first quarter. The performance solidified Old Dominion’s position in the conference standings and served as a showcase for Stack’s two-way prowess.