DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710310862

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   39 lines

LADY MONARCHS HAVE SIGHTS SET ON ANOTHER DREAM SEASON

It's been six months since the Old Dominion women's basketball team's dream run ended in the national title game, and sophomore Natalie Diaz says it's time to make new memories.

The Lady Monarchs got started on that Thursday night at the field house with their annual Blue-White scrimmage.

``It felt really good,'' said Diaz, who finished with 4-of-5 shooting for 11 points and three rebounds. ``We've been scrimmaging in practice the same way, but it's a nice test to see where you're at. It's nice to be in front of the fans starting all over again.''

Statistically speaking, the night had a familiar look. Ticha Penicheiro was the high scorer with 17 points, followed by Nyree Roberts with 16 and LaToya Small grabbed a game-high nine boards. Mery Andrade played 40 minutes, Penicheiro 39. Penicheiro's Blue-led team that included Roberts beat Andrade's White squad 65-58.

But among the new: four freshmen and one junior college transfer who must adjust to being on the floor with a group of veterans that have boosted ODU to a No. 3 preseason ranking.

And learning to play with them has been an adjustment says freshman Jessica Williams, 6 of 8 from the field for 12 points.

``It was so exciting,'' Williams said. ``Everybody just goes at it 110 percent all the time. In high school it can be a slack game, but here even if you're on the bench, you have to stay in the game because you might be asked to go in and play a totally different position.''

The Lady Monarchs meet Center Banca, their first opponent, at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday in an exhibition at the field house. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot

Kelly Bradley looks for room to maneuver during the Lady Monarchs'

annual Blue-White scrimmage at the ODU field house.

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