NORFOLK, Va. – Four teams that competed in the 2015 postseason, including five 20-plus win teams, highlight the non-conference schedule for the Old Dominion women’s basketball team, head coach Karen Barefoot announced Tuesday.
Old Dominion is coming off a successful 21-win season under the guidance of Barefoot, in which the Lady Monarchs registered victories over teams like Virginia and Virginia Tech as well as took the crown at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. In ODU's annual Education Day game on Dec. 3, the Ted Constant Center saw the program's first sellout with 8,472 fans in attendance. The crowd was the seventh highest attendance ever in the state of Virginia to watch a regular season women's basketball game and the second largest for a Lady Monarch regular season game. The first came on Feb. 20, 1981 when the Norfolk Scope drew 10,277 fans.
As a team, ODU topped the Conference USA rankings in field-goal percentage defense (37.7) and defensive rebounds (28.6 p/g). The Lady Monarchs made a run to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament and earned their third consecutive at-large bid to the WNIT, winning seven of their last 10 games. Barefoot added five new players to the team this season and welcomes back eight, including Jennie Simms, the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year.
“This continues with the pattern that we established last season of challenging ourselves against teams early who we could compete against during post-season play,” said Barefoot. “This schedule is an impressive mix of high caliber teams and leagues that not only the fans will enjoy, but will also prepare us for our Conference USA games.”
The Lady Monarchs open up the season on the road with a matchup with in-state rival Richmond on Nov. 13. The Spiders went 19-14 last season and advanced to the WNIT second round before falling to Duquesne. ODU will battle Richmond for the 28th time, but for the first time since 2011, as the Lady Monarchs lead the all-time series 22-5.
Old Dominion will return to the Ted Constant Center for a three-game, non-conference home stand featuring the Miami Hurricanes. The Lady Monarchs will first take on Wagner on Nov. 15 before they host Miami on Nov. 17. The Hurricanes, who received votes in the final 2014-15 USA Today Poll, finished the season 20-13 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Monarchs close out their home stand with East Tennessee State University on Nov. 23 in just the second meeting between the two programs. ETSU made an appearance in the WNIT after finishing the 2014-15 season with a 21-12 record.
Over Thanksgiving, the Lady Monarchs will participate in the 2015 Paradise Jam in St. Thomas from Nov. 26-28. ODU will first take on Maryland, a team that finished the season ranked No. 4 in the USA Today Poll. The Terrapins went 34-3 last season, claiming the Big 10 Championship and advancing to the NCAA Final Four for the second consecutive season.
The Lady Monarchs will then take on Pittsburgh on Nov. 27 and South Dakota State on Nov. 28. Both teams recorded over 20 wins last year and made an appearance in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. South Dakota State won the Summit League Championship, its sixth title in seven seasons.
In December, the Lady Monarchs will face five teams, including in-state rivals VCU and William & Mary. ODU begins with its only home non-conference matchup with Loyola (Md.) on Dec. 2 and follows with a trip to Howard on Dec. 15.
On Dec. 19 in Richmond, Va. the 73rd all-time meeting between ODU and VCU will take place, with the Lady Monarchs controlling the series, 57-15. The Rams went 16-14 in 2014-15 under the guidance of first-year Head Coach Beth O'Boyle.
Before ODU faces William & Mary, the Lady Monarchs will travel to UMES on Dec. 22. Old Dominion will then travel across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to take on the Tribe for the 61st all-time showdown on Dec. 29. The Lady Monarchs have controlled the series, owning a 55-5 advantage.
“We are excited to continue our series with VCU and William and Mary and we are thrilled to add Richmond.”
Lady Monarch season tickets are currently on sale for $100 per seat! Join the Lady Monarchs in the Ted Constant Convocation Center as they pursue the program’s 1000th victory and help them continue to be in the top 15 percent of attendance for all Division I women’s basketball programs. Call the ODU sales office 757-683-7087 or go online at www.ynottix.com to place your season ticket order today.
2015-16 ODU Women’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
DATE | OPPONENT | SITE |
Nov. 13 | Richmond | Away |
Nov. 15 | Wagner | Home |
Nov. 17 | Miami | Home |
Nov. 23 | ETSU | Home |
Nov. 26 | Maryland | Paradise Jam – St. Thomas |
Nov. 27 | Pittsburgh | Paradise Jam – St. Thomas |
Nov. 28 | South Dakota State | Paradise Jam – St. Thomas |
Dec. 2 | Loyola | Home |
Dec. 15 | Howard | Away |
Dec. 19 | VCU | Away |
Dec. 22 | UMES | Away |
Dec. 29 | William & Mary | Away |
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