March 12, 2009
CAA QUARTERFINALS:
RADIO:WXEZ - 94.1 FM, WGAI-560 AM (Tony Mercurio - Play-by-Play; Susan Montgomery - Color)
AUDIO: Monarch All-Access
VIDEO:Courtsey of CAASports.Com
LIVESTATS:Courtsey of CAASports.Com
ABOUT OLD DOMINION:
The Old Dominion women's basketball team, winners of an NCAA record 17 consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles, enters the post-season at 16-12 overall and as the number four seed after collecting an 11-7 conference mark. Senior Tiffany Green continues to lead the squad at 14.3 points and along with a team second best 9.1 rebounds per game. Green is among the Top 20 all-time at ODU in scoring and Top 10 all-time in rebounding. Additionally, she ranks fourth in the conference in blocked shots and is fourth all-time in the league in the category. Green is followed by junior Jessica Canady, who after last year as ODU's "sixth Lady", has tranisitioned into the starting line-up for 12.3 points per game and a team-leading and conference second-best 9.5 rebounds. Canady missed the early part of the CAA slate with a fractured thumb but has returned to the court to pour in eight double figure scoring contests and six double figure rebounding games since her comeback. Point guard Jazzmin Walters is also a member of the starting five averaging double figures. Walters is adding 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds to the mix and has recently rejoined the line-up after missing eight games with a fractured leg. Walters ranked seventh all-time at ODU in career assists. Coming off the bench is sophomore Jasmine Parker. Parker, who spent some time as a member of the starting five due to injuries, is averaging 10.3 points, which included a career-high 21 points against top-seeded Drexel.
POST-SEASON AWARD RECAP:
Senior Tiffany Green was named First Team All-CAA for the second year in a row. Junior Jessica Canady earned her second post-season conference award with a nod to the Second Team All-CAA. Senior Jen Nuzzo was co-recipient of the Dean Ehler's Leadership Award for her success in the classroom and on the court, as well as her community service activities. Nuzzo also earned her fourth academic honor from the league being named First Team All-Academic.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH UNC-WILMINGTON:
Old Dominion leads the all-time series 39-0. The Seahawks are one of three CAA teams that have yet to record a victory over the Lady Monarchs. Odl Dominion won the first meeting this season with a 79-70 victory at Trask Coliseum back on January 8th and went on to sweep the season series with a 66-46 victory at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on February 8th.
SERIES WITH UNC-WILMINGTON IN THE CAA TOURNAMENT:
The Lady Monarchs and Seahawks will meet for the sixth time in CAA Tournament action. Last season, Old Dominion defeated UNC-Wilmington, 82-65, in the quarterfinals en-route to winning its 17th straight conference crown. It will be the third meeting in the quarterfinals between the two teams. In addition to last year's victory, the Lady Monarchs also defeated the Seahawks in 1995 (73-44) and in 1993 (75-42) in quarterfinal action.
ABOUT UNC-WILMINGTON:
The Seahawks take on Old Dominion with a 15-15 overall mark, including their 56-47 first round victory over No. 12 George Mason. Entering the tournament, No. 5 UNC-Wilmington was led by Second Team All-CAA selection Brittany Blackwell at 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. She has recorded ten double-doubles this season, including her 19-point, 12-rebound effort on Thursday afternoon against the Patriots. Also in double figures for the Seahawks is Third Team All-CAA honoree Greta Luksyte. She is averaging 10.8 points per game and ended the season pouring in 13.7 points over UNC-Wilmington's final six regular season outings.