Jan. 30, 2013
GAME INFO
Thursday, Jan. 31 - 7:00 p.m.
Old Dominion (13-6, 4-3) vs. Drexel (13-5, 6-1)
Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,600) - Norfolk, Va.
ESPN 94.1 FM Radio
Play-by-play: Tony Mercurio
Color: Susan Montgomery
Live Stats
Live Audio
Live Video
ODU Game Notes
Drexel Game Notes
NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University women's basketball team returns home for the first of two games at the Ted Constant Convocation Center this week on Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Drexel. The first 1,500 fans will receive ODU rollabans courtesy of Cox Communications while the ODU Field Hockey team will be honored at halftime.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Old Dominion has bounced back after each loss this season and will put their perfect 5-0 record following a loss to the test on Thursday night against Drexel.
FREE THROW LINE
Old Dominion has bounced back after each loss this season and will put their perfect 5-0 record following a loss to the test on Thursday night against Drexel.
BENCH HELP
The Lady Monarchs continue to utilize their bench having outscored the opposition 498-258 in bench points this season. 40 percent of ODU’s season point total has come from their bench compared to just 24 percent from the opposition. In CAA play, the ODU bench is outscoring the opposing bench, 209-77.
ODU has had more bench points in 14 of their 19 games this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday’s game will be the 21st meeting between ODU and Drexel with the Lady Monarchs holding a 15-5 advantage in the all-time series. The teams first met in 2002. The Dragons have won four of the past five meetings between the two teams with ODU’s last win coming at home on Jan. 10, 2010.
SCOUTING THE DREXELS
Drexel comes in at 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the CAA after dropping their first league of the season on Sunday vs. Delaware, 65-56. The Dragons had won six in a row before that.
The CAA’s leading scorer is senior Hollie Mershon at 18.3 points per game while averaging 7.0 rebounds and has connected on 35 three-pointers while adding 78 assists. Senior Taylor Wooten adds 10.9 points per contest.
Head Coach Denise Dillon, the school’s all-time wins leader, enters her 10th season at the helm of the Drexel program. Coming off its second CAA championship game appearance in four years, the Drexel was picked to finish fourth in the league this season. Senior Hollie Mershon, a Second Team All-CAA performer last season, was named to the Preseason First Team All-CAA. Mershon is one of four seniors returning for Drexel this season. The Dragons boasted a defense which finished atop the CAA and in the nation’s top five scoring defenses, allowing just 54.3 points per game.
The Dragons went 19-14 last season, including a 12-6 mark in conference play. Drexel made the WNIT last year, marking the fourth consecutive year they have made postseason play.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Monarchs continue to utilize their bench having outscored the opposition 498-258 in bench points this season. 40 percent of ODU’s season point total has come from their bench compared to just 24 percent from the opposition. In CAA play, the ODU bench is outscoring the opposing bench, 209-77.
ODU has had more bench points in 14 of their 19 games this season.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Out of 343 teams, ODU ranks in the top 50 nationally in the following categories:
#16 Turnover Margin 5.79
#29 3-PT FG % Defense .263
#41 Steals Per Game 11.4
#44 Assists Per Game 15.5
The Lady Monarchs have forced 438 turnovers in 19 games this year (23.1 per game).
LEAGUE LEADERS
The Lady Monarchs are atop the CAA in the following categories per game:
#1 Turnover Margin 5.79
#2 Assists Per Game 15.5
#2 Steals Per Game 11.4
#3 Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.9
#3 Blocked Shots 3.9
#3 Scoring Margin +9.7
#3 Field Goal % Defense .361
#3 Field Goal % .410
#3 Scoring Defense 56.7
#3 3-PT FG % Defense .263
#3 Scoring Offense 66.4
ATOP THE CAA IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
Old Dominion finished tied for the best non-conference record in the league at 9-3 along with Delaware.
Both the nine non-conference wins and the 9-3 start are bests for ODU since the 2007- 08 season when they went to the Sweet 16 with a record of 31-5.
BAREFOOT PRINTS
ODU head coach Tiffany Minor will be in the main concourse signing autographs for fans at the Raisin' Canes Guest Services Booth.
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