Old Dominion (3-1) vs. VCU (2-1)
Game Info – Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ESPN Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
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NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball and VCU will meet on the hardwood this Thursday night when the Monarchs host the Rams for 6:30 p.m. game at Chartway Arena.
Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ with Chip Tarkenton and Kim Aston providing commentary or tune into ESPN Radio 94.1 to hear Matthew Hatfield and Shonda Deberry. Live stats will also be available.
The Series
ODU is ahead 61-20 in the all-time series, to include a 34-4 record when playing VCU at home, and has won the past six meetings in Norfolk. The two teams met in Richmond on Dec. 17 last season, a game that went to the Rams, 64-50. En’Dya Buford led ODU in the loss with 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and three steals. Mimi McCollister turned in a nine-point effort while Kaye Clark and Simone Cunningham finished with six points each. The Monarchs shot 6-for-7 at the free-throw line, but the Rams made 15-of-18 shots at the stripe. The hosts also won the battle on the glass, 44-30.
About ODU
The Monarchs (3-1) defeated Bowie State, 77-50 last Friday to claim their third win in a row. Four players scored in double figures: Buford led the way with 12 points, Mariah Clayton was next with 11 points, and Simone Cunningham and Mikayla Brown netted 10 points each. ODU led 39-27 at halftime and put together a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Buford is the team’s leading scorer with 12.5 points per game. The graduate student from Memphis, Tennessee ranks third in the Sun Belt with 4.0 assists per game. Simaru Fields and Clayton are both averaging 9.8 ppg, and Mikayla Brown (7.8 ppg) is tied for first in the conference in free-throw shooting (84.6 percent) and leads ODU with 6.5 rebounds per game. Fields and Buford have been the go-to options from beyond the arc with seven and five three-pointers made, respectively.
As a team, ODU is averaging 65.5 ppg and has outscored opponents by an average of 8.5 points. The Monarchs are shooting 36.5 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from the perimeter, and 67.4 percent at the line. The team ranks sixth in the country with 18.5 offensive rebounds per game, 18th in rebounds per game with 45.75, 23rd in three-point percentage defense (21.2 percent), and 27th in bench points per game (33.3).
About VCU
The Rams (2-1) defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, 75-60 on Nov. 6 and won at Howard, 72-48 on Nov. 10, but are coming off a close 59-55 loss to Temple last Friday in Richmond. VCU led 50-46 midway through the fourth quarter, but Temple put together an 8-2 run to seize control of the game. Mary-Anna Asare, who led the Rams with 19 points, made a driving layup with 21 seconds left to cut the deficit to 56-55, but the Owls held on for the win.
VCU has three players averaging double figures: Timaya Lewis-Eutsey is the leading scorer with an even 18.0 ppg, Asare is second with 15.7 ppg, and Grace Hutson is scoring 11.0 ppg. The trio has combined to make 18 of the team’s 22 three-pointers, with Hutson a perfect 6-for-6 from long range. Lewis-Eutsey ranks second in the Atlantic 10 with a 70.8 free-throw percentage (17-for-24), and Mykel Parham (5.3 ppg) is VCU’s top rebounder with 25 boards (8.3. rpg). Lewis-Eutsey and Asare own seven steals apiece.
Through games played on Nov. 19, the Rams rank first in the nation in three-point shooting (48.9 percent) and fourth in three-point percentage defense (17.0 percent). VCU is also shooting 46.0 percent from the floor and 64.6 percent at the charity stripe. The team averages 67.3 ppg and is outscoring opponents by an average of 11.7 points.
VCU was picked to finish fifth in the A10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Lewis-Eutsey was named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team, Asare was voted onto the Third Team, and Parham landed on the All-Defensive Team.
Up Next
ODU wraps up its four-game homestand next Tuesday when the Monarchs host William & Mary for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the upcoming 2024-25 season are available now at odusports.com/basketball-season-tickets.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $217 covering all 16 of ODU’s regular season home contests. Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and include tickets to all 16 of the Monarchs' home games. Discounted season ticket rates are available for ODU faculty and staff, ODU letterwinners, young alumni, band and spirit parents and military. Fans also have the option for mini-plans which consist of six men’s games for $84 and six women’s games for $42. Single-game tickets will go on sale starting on October 16. Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444 for more information.