July 10, 2009
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University athletic director Jim Jarrett announced the non-conference schedule for the 2009-10 women's basketball team today, featuring seven postseason teams from a year ago, including hosting national semi-finalist Stanford in the regular season opener, national runner-up Louisville at a neutral site and NCAA Regional finalist Maryland on the road.
"The women's basketball non-conference schedule is outstanding and will provide great challenges for the Lady Monarchs and tremendous competition for our fans," said Dr. Jarrett.
Seven of the ten non-conference games are against teams who played in postseason action a year ago. In addition to Stanford, Louisville and Maryland, NCAA Tournament participants Florida and Tennessee are also on the slate. ODU will also play a pair of WNIT participants as they host Mississippi and play Syracuse on a neutral site.
"Our relationship with the top twenty teams in the country is second to none," said head coach Wendy Larry. "For us to be able to continue to attract these types of teams to our schedule is certainly a credit to the commitment to women's basketball at Old Dominion; and also to the commitment that these schools have to Old Dominion as well."
Opening the regular season at the Ted Constant Convocation Center will be the Stanford Cardinal. The 2008-09 Final Four team will face off against the Lady Monarchs for just the sixth time in program history and the second time in three years. ODU will then face a pair of ACC teams, traveling to Maryland on November 19 to play the Elite Eight team and hosting North Carolina State on November 23.
Coach Larry and the Lady Monarch cagers will then fly to Mexico for a pair of games against talented Big East programs. In the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic on November 26 and 28, ODU will face Syracuse, coming off a second round WNIT appearance, and Louisville, last season's national runner-up. Louisville advanced all the way to the national championship game to face UCONN after dispatching Oklahoma, Maryland, Baylor, LSU and Liberty during March Madness. The matchup will be the third all-time against the two programs and the first game together since 1997.
Old Dominion will return home for a three-game swing in December, hosting Hampton, Ole Miss and Florida in Norfolk before closing out the non-conference schedule on the road against St. Joseph's and Tennessee. The Lady Monarchs will be playing the Lady Vols for the 43rd time, while hosting the other SEC teams, Florida and Ole Miss, for just the second and fifth all-time meetings respectively. Tennessee is coming off a first round exit in the NCAA Tournament, while Florida lost to eventual national champion UCONN in the second round and Mississippi reached the third round of the WNIT.
"We are grateful that we continue to have such strong relationships and continue to boast home and home series with quality programs," said Coach Larry.
Also this season, Old Dominion University will play host to the NCAA First and Second Round at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on March 21 and 23. The CAA regular season schedule will be announced at a later date. The CAA Tournament will be held at James Madison University from March 10-13.
The Lady Monarchs will return to the hardwood seeking their 18th CAA title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years without a CAA crown. ODU finished the season with a 17-13 overall record in a season that was decimated by injuries. The team graduated three starters in Tiffany Green, Jen Nuzzo and Jazzmin Walters.
Leading the way for the Lady Monarch returners will be senior Jessica Canady, second team All-CAA forward and conference's second-leading rebounder. She averaged 12.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg in her junior campaign. The team's third leading scorer is also returning, junior guard Jasmine Parker (10.2 ppg).
Key contributors returning also include junior guard/forward Shadasia Green (9.3 ppg/6.0 rpg) and sophomore forward Mairi Buchan (5.2 ppg/3.3 rpg). Tia Lewis will also join the rotation after sitting out a year for the Lady Monarchs due to NCAA transfer regulations. She led Central Florida in scoring (12.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg) and was the 2007-08 Conference USA Freshman of the Year after leading the league in rebounding. An exciting group of newcomers will also come into the fold for Coach Larry as the Lady Monarchs look to return to the top of the CAA.
For season ticket information, please call the Constant Center ticket office at 757-683-4444.
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY 2009-10
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Tues. Nov. 3Blue/White GameFri. Nov. 6Chowan University (exh.)Tues. Nov. 10Shaw University (exh.)Fri. Nov. 13StanfordThurs. Nov 19at MarylandMon. Nov. 23NC StateThurs. Nov. 26vs. Syracuse (Cancun Thanksgiving Classic)Sat. Nov. 28vs. Louisville (Cancun Thanksgiving Classic)Sun. Dec. 6Ole MissFri. Dec. 11FloridaSun. Dec. 20HamptonTues. Dec. 22at St. Joseph'sWed. Dec. 30at TennesseeFri. Mar. 21 NCAA Tournament - 1st RoundSun. Mar. 23 NCAA Tournament - 2nd Round