Aug. 8, 2002
NORFOLK, VA. - The 2002-03 Old Dominion University Lady Monarch schedule, featuringsix 2002 NCAA Tournament, two Final Four participants, and the nine-team CAA slate in theinaugural season of the Constant Convocation Center as announced by athletic director JimJarrett.
Highlighting the home slate are dates with six-time national champion Tennessee, Virginia,Virginia Tech, N.C. State, and Rutgers.
"The official opening of the Lady Monarchs inaugural season in the Constant Center is aspecial time in the history of Old Dominion athletics, "said Jim Jarrett. "The University ofVirginia offers outstanding competition for this opening game and I personally look forwardto exciting atmosphere and great basketball, as the Lady Monarchs compete for another CAAChampionship, and play one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules."
The 2002-03 season will mark the Lady Monarchs' first season in the brand new, state of theart Constant Convocation Center after playing the last 32 years at the Old Dominion Fieldhouse.Old Dominion will open the season at the new facility on Nov. 22 with state rival Virginia, and continue its non-conference slate against Virginia Tech on Dec. 21 and North Carolina State on Dec. 30.
CAA Tournament runner-up UNC Wilmington will serve as the Lady Monarchs' conferenceopener on Jan.2, which will be followed by the 26-year old rivalry with Tennessee on Jan. 7. Rounding out the home non-conference part will be another long standing rival, Rutgers on Jan.31.
The road portion of the Lady Monarchs' schedule begins with a trip to the island of St. Thomasfor the University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Nov. 28-30 in an exempt tournamentevent featuring Arkansas, Duke and Hampton. The Lady Monarchs have not played Duke,last year's NCAA Final Four participant since the 1999 NCAA regional in Greensboro, NC.Hampton last appeared on the ODU schedule in the fall of 2000, while the Lady Razorbacks,who reached the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament, losing to Kansas State will meet ODU for the first time in school history.
Other key road dates include a match-up at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford,NJ. with Seton Hall, and 2002 NCAA participants North Carolina and Penn State.
In addition to the highly competitive 2002-03 schedule, the new Constant Convocation Centerwill play host to the 2003 CAA Women's Championships Mar. 12-15 as well as the first andsecond rounds of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
"This may be the strongest non-conference schedule we've played, especially considering theyouth of our team," said Lady Monarch head coach Wendy Larry, who has compiled a407-146 career collegiate record. "We are excited about beginning a new era in Lady Monarchbasketball with the opening of the new Constant Convocation Center. The schedule is enhanced by our hosting the CAA and NCAA Tournaments, and our fans will have the opportunity to see great women's basketball from November through March."
The Lady Monarchs, winners of the last 11 straight CAA titles and three-time nationalchampions, will welcome back six letterwinners from last year's squad which reached theNCAA Elite Eight, falling to undefeated national champion Connecticut. Returning tothe court will be CAA Tournament MVP, and second team All-CAA honoree OkeishaHoward (Va. Beach, VA.), and CAA All-Tournament member Monique Coker (Bronx, NY.),while the Lady Monarchs welcome newcomers Lawona Davis (Port St. Lucie, FL.),Shantel Wilson (Washington, DC.), and Cassie Calwell (Raleigh, NC.), a transfer fromLouisburg Junior College.
Season tickets are available for purchase now by call the Athletic Ticket Office at 683-4444.
Old Dominion University
Women's Basketball Schedule 2002-2003
November2Sat.BLUE-WHITE GAME Convocation CenterTBA6Wed.EXHIBITION (Team Concept) Convocation Center7:00 p.m.13Wed.EXHIBITION (Basketball Travelers) Convocation Center7:00 p.m.22Fri.VIRGINIA Convocation Center7:00 p.m.28-30Thurs - SatUniversity of Virgin Islands Paradise JamTBA(Arkansas, Duke, Hampton)
December5Thu.@ Seton Hall Continental Airlines TBA8Sun.@ North Carolina Carmichael AuditoriumTBA21Sat.VIRGINIA TECH Convocation Center2:00 p.m.30Mon.N.C. STATE Convocation Center7:00 p.m.January2Thu.UNC-WILMINGTON* Convocation Center7:00 p.m.7Tues.TENNESSEE Convocation Center7:00 p.m.10Fri.@ Drexel* Daskalakis Athl.Ctr.TBA12Sun.@ George Mason * Patriot Center2:00 p.m.16Thurs.JAMES MADISON * Convocation Center7:00 p.m.19Sun.@ Towson * Towson Center 1:00 p.m.21Tues.@ Penn St. Bryce Jordan Center7:00 p.m24Fr.VA COMMONWEALTH * Convocation Center7:00 p.m.26Sun.HOFSTRA * Convocation Center2:00 p.m.31Fri.RUTGERS Convocation Center7:00 p.m.February2Sun.DELAWARE* Convocation Center2:00 p.m.6Thurs.@ Virginia Commonwealth * Siegel Center 7:00 p.m.9Sun.@ James Madison * JMU Convocation Ctr.TBA14Fri.@ Delaware * Bob Carpenter Center7:00 p.m.16Sun.@ Hofstra * Hofstra Arena 1:00 p.m.21Fri.DREXEL* Convocation Center7:00pm23Sun.GEORGE MASON* Convocation Center2:00pm27Thu.TOWSON* Convocation Center7:00pmMarch2Sun.WILLIAM & MARY * Convocation Center2:00 p.m.6Thurs.@ UNC Wilmington * Trask Coliseum7:00 p.m.9Sun.@ William & Mary * William & Mary Hall2:00 p.m.12-15Wed.-SatCAA TournamentConvocation CenterTBA*CAA Conference Games All home games will be played at the Constant Convocation Center.