Nov. 9, 2007
Old Dominion vs. Middle Tennessee Game Notes in PDF Format 
ABOUT THE LADY MONARCHS: The 2007-08 season kicks off for the Old Dominion women's basketball team Saturday night against Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Monarchs return eight letterwinners and two starters from last year's 24-9 squad. Among the returnees are Preseason First Team All-CAA selection T.J. Jordan and Preseason Second Team All-CAA pick Tiffany Green. Old Dominion will also add six newcomers to the mix.
PRESEASON AWARDS: Senior guard T.J. Jordan was a Preseason First Team All-CAA selection for the second consecutive year. Jordan, a two-time CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, averaged a team-leading 14.5 points per game and nearly rewrote every three-point record in the ODU history books. Junior Tiffany Green was named to the Preseason Second Team All-CAA list. Green will be the Lady Monarchs returning leading rebounder as she hauled in 6.0 a year ago along with 8.4 points per game.
CAA PRESEASON POLL - WE'RE #1: Old Dominion, which has captured the past 16 Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball titles, was picked to repeat as conference champion in 2007-08 according to a vote of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media. The Lady Monarchs, who posted their 16th consecutive 20-win season last year, were followed in the voting by James Madison, William & Mary, VCU and Delaware. Picked sixth was Towson, followed by Hofstra, Drexel, Georgia State, Northeastern, UNC Wilmington, and George Mason.
IN THE POLLS: The 2007-08 Old Dominion women's basketball team is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. Old Dominion's last Top 25 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll was November 18th, 2003. Old Dominion's last appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 was the final poll of the 2002 season as the Lady Monarchs danced their way to the "Elite Eight".
RANK `EM UP - ESPN/USA TODAY POLL: The Lady Monarchs will be taking on six teams ranked among the nation's top 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. Among the teams the Lady Monarchs will take on include three teams in the poll's top ten in No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Connecticut, and No. 8 Stanford. Other upcoming Lady Monarch opponents include No. 17 Vanderbilt, No. 18 Michigan State, and No. 20 Purdue as well as a possible match-up with No. 9 Duke in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas over Thanksgiving week. Old Dominion opponents receiving votes in the preseason poll include Middle Tennessee, who will serve as the Lady Monarchs season and home opener on November 10th, Kentucky, and Temple, who could be a possible opponent in the Paradise Jam.
RANK `EM UP - AP POLL: The Lady Monarchs will be taking on five teams ranked among the nation's top 25 in the Associated Press Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. Among the teams the Lady Monarchs will take on include three teams in the poll's top ten in No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Connecticut, and No. 7 Stanford. Other upcoming Lady Monarch opponents include No. 17 Michigan State and No. 23 Vanderbilt Additionally possible opponent in the Virgin Islands, Duke, is ranked at No. 10. Old Dominion opponents receiving votes in the preseason poll include Middle Tennessee and Kentucky as well as Purdue and Temple, who could be a possible opponents in the Paradise Jam.
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE: Middle Tennessee State also opens up its 2007-08 season tonight. Last season the Blue Raiders reached second round action of the NCAA Tournament and finished the year with a 30-4 record. Among the victories was an 86-71 win over the Lady Monarchs. Middle Tennessee returns seven letterwinners and three starters from a year ago, including Amber Holt, who averaged 16.7 point and 6.3 rebounds per game. Holt poured in a game-high 27 points in the first-ever meeting with the Lady Monarchs. She went 8-of-17 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line and also hauled in eight rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE IN EXHIBITION ACTION: Middle Tennessee State defeated North Alabama, 82-36, and Henderson State, 108-49, in exhibition action. Freshman Blue Raider Anne Marie Lanning scored 18 points, leading four double figure scorers in the victory over North Alabama. Additionally senior Amber Holt netted 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Against Henderson State Monday night, Holt scored 22 points and Lanning added 21, leading six double-figure scorers. The Blue Raiders also hit 15 three-pointers in the contest.
LAST TIME VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE: Middle Tennessee State used a late second half run to earn a 87-71 victory over the Lady Monarchs back on Dec. 20, 2006 at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Lady Monarchs were led by starting point guard Jazzmin Walters with a career-high 13 points along with four steals and three assists. Both classmate Shahida Williams and T.J. Jordan added in 12. The Blue Raiders had a trio in double figures led by Amber Holt with a game-high 27. Krystle Horton had 23 points and Chrissy Given poured in 17 along with a game-high six assists. The Blue Raiders were able to capitalize on 29 Old Dominion turnovers resulting in 39 points for the opposing team. In the first half, neither team managed more than a four point lead and endured seven ties. Middle Tennessee only held a one-point lead, 39-28, at intermission. The ODU defense was able to keep the Blue Raiders to just 32.4 percent shooting in the first half, but the second half saw Middle Tennessee shoot a blistering 60.9 percent. The Blue Raiders quickly established a seven point lead the first minute into the second half, but the Lady Monarchs fought back. By the 14:18 mark of half number two, Old Dominion managed to tie the game at 51-51. Following a Horton bucket, the Lady Monarchs responded with a three by Jordan and took back the lead, 54-53. During the next three minutes the game would endure four lead changes and Old Dominion would see its last lead at the 8:09 mark. Williams converted the traditional three-point play for a 62-60 Old Dominion advantage. MTSU's Jackie Pickel sparked a Blue Raider 15-3 run with back-to-back three-pointers to return the lead back to Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders had a 10-point, 75-65, edge with 2:58 remaining. The Lady Monarchs fought back to within six with a minute and a half to go, but were charged with an intentional foul giving the Blue Raiders two free throws and possession of the ball. Middle Tennessee scored its final nine points from the line. Old Dominion held a 37-31 advantage on the boards led by Tay Ransburg with seven.The Lady Monarchs had one of its best performance from the field and the line against the Blue Raiders. Old Dominion ended the evening hitting 48.1 percent from the floor and 72.2 from the charity stripe.
SEASON HIGH VS. BLUE RAIDERS: Last year against the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, current junior Jazzmin Walters logged a career-mark with 13 points. The 5-2 guard shot 3-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line and added four steals and three rebounds in 31 minutes of action for the Lady Monarchs.
SEASON OPENERS: The Lady Monarchs are 25-13 in season openers and are looking for its first season opening victory since the 2001-02 season. Last season Old Dominion suffered a 72-92 set back at Virginia to open up the Cavalier's new home at the John Paul Jones Arena. The Lady Monarchs last season opening victory occurred during the 2001-02 season with a 82-26 victory over Towson welcoming the Tigers to the CAA in their first conference meeting following a move from the America East Conference. Since the victory over the Tigers, Old Dominion has fell to Virginia (2002: 55-63) to open up the Ted Constant Convocation Center, #20 Colorado (2003: 67-84) at the WBCA Classic, at Georgia Tech (2004: 64-71), #1 Duke (2005: 56-93), and as well as last year's set back at Virginia.
HOME OPENERS: In home openers, the Lady Monarchs are 27-11 including a 2-3 mark at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Old Dominion fell to #21/24 Kentucky in its 2006-07 home debut, 55-69. The Lady Monarchs last home opening victory happened in 2004 with a 87-56 win over in-state rival Virginia Tech.
WELCOME TO THE TED: Since the doors opened at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in 2002, the Lady Monarchs have enjoyed a 65-12 record.
Ranked Wins At The Constant Center:
11/25/03 - #7 Penn State - W, 75-68
12/7/03- #12/13 UNC - W, 73-68
12/5/04- #16/19 Rutgers - W, 69-61
2/25/07 - #22/25 James Madison- W, 62-57
Losses At The Constant Center:
11/22/02 - Virginia - L, 55-63
1/7/03 - #5 Tennessee - L, 63-91
1/31/03- Rutgers - L, 59-67
3/22/03- Boston College (NCAA) - L, 72-73
1/2/05- #8 Tennessee - L, 58-68
1/9/05- Delaware - L, 70-73
11/20/05 - #1/2 Duke - L, 56-93
12/4/05- #19/20 Vanderbilt - L, 77-82
12/29/05 - #5 North Carolina - L, 80-88 (OT)
3/19/06- George Washington (NCAA) - L, 72-87
11/18/06 - #21/24 Kentucky - L, 55-69
12/22/05 - #5 Tennessee- L, 59-75
TOP WBB ATTENDANCE AT THE CONSTANT CENTER
1. Tennessee 1/7/03 - 7,758
2. Virginia 11/22/02 - 7,316
3. Tennessee 12/22/06 - 7,108
4. Tennessee 1/2/05 - 7,063
5. George Washington (NCAA) 3/19/06 - 6,847
6. Rutgers 1/31/03 - 6,384
CAA OPENERS: Old Dominion is 16-0 in CAA openers and will open the conference season on Jan 6 at George State in a televised game. Here's how the Lady Monarchs have done in all their 16 CAA openers.
91-92 - at William & Mary W, 70-51
92-93 - at George Mason W, 81-48
93-94 - VCU W, 80-49
94-95 - at VCU W, 71-54
95-96 - at Richmond W, 79-36
96-97 - Richmond W, 89-53
97-98 - at William & Mary W, 94-53
98-99 - at UNC-W W, 104-60
99-00 - at UNC-W W, 84-65
00-01 - at UNC-W W, 74-59
01-02 - Towson W, 82-26
02-03 - UNC-WW, 71-58
03-04 - at William & Mary - W, 75-58
04-05 - at James Madison - W, 70-58
05-06 - at VCU - W, 82-62
06-07 - at VCU - W, 81-70
CAA HOME OPENERS: Old Dominion is 15-1 in CAA openers including a 3-1 mark at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Here's how the Lady Monarchs have done in their last 16 CAA home openers:
91-92 - James Madison - W, 64-62
92-93 - Richmond - W, 75-51
93-94 - VCU - W, 80-49
94-95 - James Madison - W, 68-64
95-96 - American - W, 94-39
96-97 - Richmond - W, 89-53
97-98 - Richmond - W, 80-58
98-99 - VCU - W, 80-48
99-00 - Richmond - W, 108-67
00-01 - American - W, 86-41
01-02 - Towson - W, 82-26
02-03 - UNC-W - W, 71-58
03-04 - Towson- W, 87-34
04-05 - Delaware - L, 70-73
05-06 - Hofstra - W, 71-57
06-07 - Drexel - W, 70-45
EXHIBITION RECAP - SHAW UNIVERSITY: Senior T.J. Jordan was down right scary Halloween night at the Ted Constant Convocation as she shot 7-of-8 from downtown and led six Lady Monarch double figure scorers with 25 points in the Old Dominion women's basketball team's 101-60 victory over Shaw University from Raleigh, North Carolina. Jordan also added game-high five assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Twenty of Jordan's points came in the first half of action including a string of four straight. Senior Shahida Williams was another among the double figure scorers. "Greedy" came off the bench for 12 points, including an 8-of-10 performance from the line. Junior Tiffany Green, freshmen Jasmine Parker and Shadasia Green, and sophomore Jessica Canady each poured in 11 points in the 41-point win. All of Shadasia Green's points came in the second half. Canady nearly missed a double-double as she hauled in a game-high nine boards. Tiffany Green also grabbed eight
EXHIBITION RECAP - ATHLETES-IN-ACTION: Three Lady Monarchs picked up double-doubles and six scored in double figures, including all the members of the starting line-up, in the Old Dominion women's basketball team's 101-42 victory over Athletes-In-Action. Senior Megan Pym poured in 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, junior Tiffany Green added in 11 points along with 12 boards, and junior Jazzmin Walters registered 10 points and dished out 10 assists. For the second straight exhibition game, senior T.J. Jordan led all scorers with 18 points, including 13 first half points. Also registering double figures were senior Shahida Williams with 10 and sophomore Jessica Canady, who came off the bench to net 13.
FROM DOWNTOWN: Look at the three-point records section in the ODU history book and you'll see senior T.J. Jordan's name nearly everywhere! Last season Jordan ranked fourth nationally in three-point field goals per game hitting an average of 3.1 per contest. She hit 10 three-pointers against Northeastern late last February to not only set a new ODU record for three's in a game, but it was the most three's by a Division I women's player last season. Jordan also reset the school record for three-pointers attempted in a game (22), made in a season (101), attempted in a season (283), and attempted in a career (666). The ODU three-point record left for her to break is three-pointers made in a career. The record is currently held by Aubry Eblin (1995-99) with 250 made in a career. Jordan is catching up with 241 to date.
HI MOM - I'M ON TV!: Seven Lady Monarch games will be aired, beginning on Nov. 23 with a Comcast Sportsnet broadcast with nationally ranked Connecticut from the Virgin Islands on tape delay at 11 p.m.. Old Dominion's conference games at Georgia State on Jan. 6, at Delaware on Jan. 27, and at James Madison on Mar. 2 will also be aired on Comcast Sportsnet, available on channel 35 in the Hampton Roads area. Lady Monarch games with Penn State on Nov. 29, James Madison on Jan. 13, and William and Mary on Feb. 10 will be available on WSKY-4. John Castleberry will provide the play by play along with former Lady Monarch and ODU Hall of Famer Jan Trombly on color for all the WSKY games.
SO WE MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME: The only team on the 2007-08 schedule the Lady Monarchs have never faced is Michigan State. The Spartans come to Norfolk on Dec. 2.
SO WE MEET AGAIN: The Lady Monarchs continue annual rivalries with Tennessee and Penn State while taking on Middle Tennessee, East Carolina, Delaware State, and Kentucky for the second straight season. It marks the third straight season ODU and Charlotte will meet on the hardwood while the Lady Monarchs return a game to Vanderbilt from the 2005-06 season.
THINK PINK: The annual HOOPS FOR A CURE game is slated for Feb. 10 against CAA rival William & Mary.