CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Old Dominion University women’s basketball team (7-7) will travel to take on former Sun Belt rival, Charlotte (6-7), this Wednesday, January 8, at the Halton Arena. This will be the first ever game that the Lady Monarchs play in their new conference, the C-USA. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES
(9-3, ODU) - Old Dominion and Charlotte have met a total of 12 times prior to Wednesday’s showdown, with the Lady Monarchs winning nine of the ballgames and the 49ers claiming victory in the other three matchups. The last time these two teams met in Charlotte (12/17/06), the 49ers won by a score of 68-64.
Old Dominion’s (7-7) Probable Starters
No. 1 - Shae Kelley (F – Jr. – 6’3)
No. 3 - Chelisa Painter (F - RJr. – 6’1)
No. 5 - Galaisha Goodhope (G - So. – 5’5)
No. 32 - Tiffany Minor (F - Jr. – 6’0)
No. 34 – Odegua Oigbokie (F – Fr. – 6’1)
Charlotte’s (6-7) Probable Starters
No. 03 – Ayanna Holmes (G – Jr. – 5’7)
No. 10 – Ny Hammonds (G – Sr. – 5’5)
No. 13 – Gabby Tyler (F – RJr. – 6’2)
No. 20 – Kira Gordon (G – So. - 6’0)
No. 22 – Hillary Sigmon (G – Jr. – 6’0)
MULTIMEDIA
Radio:
ESPN94.1 in Hampton Roads
Wednesday’s game will be aired live with the Voice of the Lady Monarchs, Doug Ripley. Doug's radio broadcast will begin live at 6:30 p.m. from Halton Arena.
STREAMING and LIVE STATS:
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING - (Requires Charlotte 49ers Network Subscription)
FREE LIVE STATS
The ODU InGame Mobile App
The ODU InGame App is completely FREE and is compatible with Apple and Android products. The ODU InGame Mobile App includes links for the live radio broadcast, social media feeds and up to the minute fan information!
Preseason Conference USA Coaches Poll
1. Middle Tennessee (8) 244
2. UTEP (6) 231
3. Tulane 212
4. Charlotte (1) 196
5. FIU 190
6. Old Dominion 170
7. East Carolina 155
8. UAB 129
9. Tulsa 116
10. Rice 114
11. Louisiana Tech 98
12. North Texas (1) 92
13. Southern Miss 78
T14. Florida Atlantic 58
T14. UTSA 58
16. Marshall 35
The 2013-14 Charlotte 49ers (6-7)
Head coach Cara Consuegra is already off to the best start for any women’s basketball coach in program history. As she is in the midst of her third season at the helm for Charlotte, she looks to continue the tradition as the Niners embark on a return to Conference USA in the hunt for their 12th-straight postseason appearance. Charlotte competed in the Atlantic 10 the past eight seasons, but competed in Conference USA in 1994-95 and in 2004-05.
This season, Consuegra returns two starters and seven letterwinners returning from last year’s 26-6 (13-1) WNIT Sweet 16 squad. The Niners feature just one senior, guard Ny Hammonds, among their youthful roster, but also turn to junior guard Hillary Sigmon and redshirt junior forward Gabby Tyler for leadership in their captaincy roles.
Hammonds was an All-Atlantic 10 Third Team selection in 2012-13 after setting single-season program records for assists (209) and minutes played (1101). A candidate for the Nancy Lieberman Award, she placed eighth nationally with 6.7 assists per game.
Last season, Sigmon knocked down a career-high 67 3-pointers, leading the perimeter scoring. Tyler returns to the court this season after missing all of last year with an injury. Prior to her absence, she averaged 6.9 points per game through the 2011-12 campaign.
This season, Charlotte currently has four different players averaging double figures for points in: Hammonds (11.6 ppg/4.7 rpg), Sigmon (10.8 ppg/3.2 rpg), Tyler (10.0 ppg/7.2 rpg) and Kira Gordon (11.5 ppg/6.2 rpg). To this point into the season, Charlotte is averaging 69.2 points scored per game, while giving up 69.8 points per contest.
The 2013-14 Old Dominion University Lady Monarch’s (7-7)
Old Dominion is led by Shae Kelley (16.4 points, 10.7 rebounds), Tiffany Minor (8.8 ppg/4.0 rpg), Stephanie Gardner (8.4 ppg), Chelisa Painter (7.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Galaisha Goodhope (7.4 ppg). The Lady Monarchs are averaging 68.3 points a game and hitting 39.8 percent of its field goals on the season.
The Lady Monarch's Last Time Out
The Lady Monarchs took down North Carolina Central, 68-44, on Sunday afternoon at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The Lady Monarchs finished non-conference play with a 7-7 overall record.
Freshman Odegua Oigbokie went off for her career high in points (11), as well as her highest total for rebounds (7) of her young collegiate career. Junior co-captain, Shae Kelley, recorded her team-high ninth double-double of the season in a 12 point, 11 rebound, four steal and three assist performance.
At the 9:47 mark of the first half, the Lady Monarchs were holding onto a 19-15 lead until Old Dominion closed the half on a 23-5 run, taking a 42-20 advantage into the locker room. ODU never looked back on their way to victory by their largest lead of the game, 24, in their 68-44 triumph.
The Lady Monarchs also got key contributions from Galaisha Goodhope (four rebounds and three assists), Tiffany Minor (four rebounds, three assists and three steals) and from seniors Stephanie Gardner and Shakeva Richards, who all tallied eight points apiece. For Richards, eight points is a season high on 3-4 shooting from the floor.
For the game, Old Dominion shot 47.5% (29-61) from the field, 16.7% (3-18) from three and 87.5% (7-8) from the free-throw line. NCCU was held to 33.3% (18-54) shooting form the floor. The Lady Monarchs held advantages in bench points (23-9), points in the paint (46-28) and fast break points (18-6).
Looking Ahead for the Lady Monarchs
Old Dominion will return home to the Ted Constant Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m., when they will square-off on the hardwood against Tulane.
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