Sept. 13, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion women's basketball program unveiled its 2011-12 schedule Tuesday. The Lady Monarchs will face 11 teams that advanced to post-season play a year ago, including five that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
The slate includes home match-ups against Virginia Tech and Richmond and road trips to perennial power Tennessee, 2011 Final Four participant Stanford, and Atlantic Coast Conference foe Georgia Tech. The Lady Monarchs will also travel to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament in which they'll take on Alabama, Louisiana Tech and Seton Hall.
"Karen Barefoot and her staff have a competitive and challenging non-conference schedule this season that will test our squad and prepare them for CAA play," said Old Dominion Athletic Director, Dr. Wood Selig. "Tickets for our women's games are very affordable and we provide many discount opportunities for families and groups. We are creating a new and exciting atmosphere at our women's games, and that along with Coach Barefoot's new style of play, will entertain our fans."
Barefoot will be taking over one of the youngest teams in America with the Lady Monarchs roster featuring nine underclassmen and just one returning starter from last year's squad that finished second in the CAA and qualified for the WNIT. A challenging schedule will await the squad as Louisiana Tech, James Madison and Georgia Tech join Tennessee and Stanford as 2011 NCAA Tournament teams on ODU's slate.
"This is an extremely competitive schedule that provides opportunity for this young and exciting team to learn and grow to be ready for the CAA," said Barefoot. "Our non-conference schedule includes national powerhouse programs, NCAA teams from last year, and regional rivalry games."
Old Dominion will open the regular season on November 11 against Virginia Tech. The Lady Monarchs and Hokies will be starting a four-year partnership this year with the first game taking place at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
After the opener, ODU will embark on an extremely tough road trip to Georgia Tech (Nov. 13) and Stanford (Nov. 17). The Lady Monarchs defeated the Yellow Jackets at home last season, 65-63. Stanford advanced to the 2011 Final Four before falling to eventual National Champion Texas A&M.
Old Dominion will welcome intrastate rival Richmond to Norfolk on November 20 before heading to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam. The trip to St. Thomas will be the third time ODU has participated in the tournament. The Lady Monarchs will take on Alabama, Louisiana Tech and Seton Hall November 24-26.
Both Old Dominion and Alabama were in the WNIT last year, with the Crimson Tide advancing to the Sweet 16. The matchup against Louisiana Tech will pit two of the top three all-time winningest women's basketball programs against each other. Seton Hall head coach Anne Donovan will be facing off against her alma mater for the first time in the tournament's final game.
ODU will then head to the nation's capital to face George Washington on November 30 before opening Colonial Athletic Association play on the road at George Mason on December 4. The Lady Monarchs return home to battle Wofford (Dec. 7) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Dec. 21) before closing out non-conference play at Tennessee on December 28.
Old Dominion's first conference home game will take place on January 5 against Georgia State. The Lady Monarchs will also host CAA contests against Hofstra (Jan. 15), UNCW (Jan. 22), George Mason (Jan. 29), James Madison (Feb. 2), Drexel (Feb. 16), VCU (Feb. 19), Northeastern (Feb. 23) and Towson (Feb. 29). The game against the Tigers will be senior day in Norfolk and the last game before the CAA Tournament.
The Lady Monarchs will travel to Northeastern (Jan. 8), VCU (Jan. 12), Georgia State (Jan. 19), William & Mary (Jan. 26), Hofstra (Feb. 5), Delaware (Feb. 9), UNCW (Feb. 12), and James Madison (Feb. 26) for league road games.
The dates and times of all conference games are subject to change.
Fans will also have the chance to see the Lady Monarchs twice before regular season play kicks off. The annual Blue/White scrimmage will take place on October 29th at 5:30 p.m. following the men's scrimmage, and ODU will host an exhibition contest against Davis & Elkins on November 3 at 7 p.m.
For the second straight year the CAA Championship will be held at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. The 12-team tournament will run from March 8-11 with the winning team earning the league's automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Old Dominion will host the NCAA 1st and 2nd rounds this year and should ODU qualify for the tournament, the Lady Monarchs will be placed in Norfolk.
For season ticket information, please call the Constant Center ticket office at 757-683-4444.
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