WHO: Presbyterian College Blue Hose vs. Old Dominion Lady Monarchs
WHEN: Fri., Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Ted Constant Convocation Center (Norfolk, Va.)
MEDIA: ESPN 94.1 FM (Hampton Roads)/Monarch Media
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University women’s basketball team is set to tipoff the 2014-15 regular season against Presbyterian College on Friday, Nov. 14. The game will take place at the Ted Constant Center at 7:00 p.m.
HOW TO TUNE IN
Friday’s contest will be video streamed live in HD through Monarch Media on ODUSports.com and will also air live on ESPN 94.1 FM Hampton Roads with Doug Ripley (Voice of the Lady Monarchs) on play-by-play and Susan Montgomery (former Lady Monarch assistant coach) handling color duties.
2014-15 LADY MONARCHS
The Lady Monarchs are poised to begin their second season of Conference USA play and their fourth season under the direction of head coach Karen Barefoot. Under her tutelage, ODU racked up 18 wins en route to its second consecutive WNIT berth during the 2013-14 season after going 19-12 in 2012-13. The Lady Monarchs finished the 2013-14 season strong, winning nine of their last 13 games while handing Southern Miss its only home loss of the season.
Coach Barefoot’s incoming recruiting class has been ranked No. 43 for 2014-15 by the All-Star Report, the highestt of any team in Conference USA. Old Dominion averaged 2,884 fans per contest for the 2013-14 regular season, ranking second in Conference USA and No. 38 overall in the country.
The Lady Monarchs were picked to finish No. 6 overall in the 2014-15 Conference USA Coaches’ Preseason Poll. Middle Tennessee has been picked to repeat as Conference USA women's basketball champion. Senior forward Chastity Gooch of C-USA newcomer WKU has been tabbed the league's Preseason Player of the Year.
This year’s Old Dominion squad is headlined by redshirt sophomore forward, Jennie Simms, who had to sit out last season due to NCAA rules after transferring from West Virginia University. Redshirt junior guard, Ashley Betz-White, returns to the hardwood this season after taking a medical redshirt in 2013-14. Betz-White was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2011-12. Joining Simms and Betz-White are redshirt sophomore Annika Holopainen, who also had to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Holopainen was named to the West Coast Conference (WCC) All-Freshman Team in 2012-13 at the University of Portland.
Chelisa Painter is the Lady Monarchs top point/rebound returner after averaging 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 2013-14. Tiffany Minor also returns for her senior campaign after compiling 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest just a season ago.
The Lady Monarchs also return Odegua Oigbokie (5.3 pts/3.4 rebs), LaQuanda Younger (2.3 pts/1.6 rebs) and Destinee Young (2.6 pts/2.5 rebs), who will look to contribute to ODU’s continued success for the 2014-15 season.
MEET PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
This season, the Presbyterian College women’s basketball team will field a young team that hopes to build on a 2013-14 season that won eight of its last 11 games.
PC boasted the nation’s second-ranked scoring defensive last season, holding opponents to 53.5 points per game. The Blue Hose won nine Big South Conference games and knocked off Longwood in the first round of the Big South tournament.
Head coach Ronny Fisher and the Blue Hose return six members who saw court time from last year’s squad, led by redshirt junior forward Keyonna Allen. The forward posted the 10th-best rebounding season in program history last year, hauling in 218 rebounds that included 88 offensive boards. Allen became the first PC Division I player to tally 300 points and 200 rebounds in a single season while pacing the team in points 11 times, rebounds 16 times and blocks 16 times.
Fisher tabs sophomore Aianna Kelly as another key member that will dictate PC’s success. Kelly made a splash in her rookie season by leading the freshman trio with 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, pacing the team in assists and steals while playing heavy minutes toward the season’s end. Kelly also saw her share of time running the floor, something Fisher hopes freshman Cortney Storey can take over to free Kelly on the wing.
Senior Noelle Carter, sophomore Rebecca Walker and sophomore Kaycie Reffnerround out the returning letterwinners. Walker turned in a fine freshman campaign on both offense and defense, leading PC in blocks 10 times—including blocking four shots against NC Central—and averaging 4.9 points per game. Walker made 20 three-pointers, third-most on the team, and will have the green light from distance this season. Reffner gained a wealth of experience running the floor, starting 14 games and playing in all 31. The freshman ranked second on the team in three-pointers and upped her game during Big South Conference play.
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