| GAME 12: Old Dominion (5-6, 0-0 C-USA) at Rice (9-2, 0-0 C-USA) GAME 13: Old Dominion at North Texas (3-8, 0-0 C-USA) | |
| Date | Friday, Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET-- Sunday, Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET |
| Location | Houston, Texas (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- Denton, Texas (Super Pit) |
| Tickets | RiceOwls.com | MeanGreenSports.com |
| Game Notes | Old Dominion | Rice | North Texas | C-USA |
| Season Stats | Old Dominion | Rice | North Texas | C-USA |
| Follow | ODU at RICE: Video (CUSA.tv) | Radio (ESPN 94.1) | Live Stats | Twitter ODU at UNT: Video (CUSA.tv) | Radio (ESPN 94.1) | Live Stats | Twitter |
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Old Dominion women's basketball team opens up Conference USA play this weekend with road contests at Rice on Friday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT and at North Texas on Sunday, Jan. 1, at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.
Both games will be streamed live on CUSA.tv and can also be heard on ESPN Radio 94.1 featuring commentary from Doug Ripley.
Old Dominion (5-6) enters the opening weekend of C-USA play looking to snap a three-game losing skid after falling at East Tennessee State, 70-60, on Wednesday. Jennie Simms, the nation's third leading scorer at 25.0 points per game, and Destinee Young, who is averaging a double-double with 11.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, lead the Lady Monarch offense.
As a team, ODU is shooting 41.4 percent, while holding its opponents to 37.6 percent shooting. The Lady Monarchs also hold a +5.4 rebounding margin and have outrebounded their oppoent in eight of the 11 games.
Rice (9-2) enters Friday on a six-game winning streak and own the best overall record in C-USA entering conference play. The Owls are holding opponents to just 52.9 points per game, which leads C-USA and ranks ninth nationally, and have not allowed more than 66 points so far this season. Shani Rainey, at 13.8 points per game, leads a Rice offense that features eight different players averaging five or more points.
North Texas (3-8), who hosts Charlotte on Friday, head into C-USA play having won just one game in their last six. At 3-8, the Mean Green have the third-worst record in the conference, but force 20.7 turnovers per game, which ranks second in C-USA. On the offensive end, Terriell Bradley is the only UNT player averaging double figures with 11.7 points per game.
OLD DOMINION (5-6, 0-0 C-USA) NOTES
- ODU is outrebounding opponents by margin of +5.4 boards per game
- ODU's 43.5 rebounds per game rank 34th nationally and second in C-USA
- Jennie Simms (25.0ppg) is the third leading scorer in the NCAA and leads C-USA
- Destinee Young ranks in the top five in the NCAA in double-doubles with eight
- ODU's bench has outscored its opponent's in four straight games
- Jessica Munoz (Nacogdoches, Texas) is the only Texas native on ODU's roster
RICE (9-2, 0-0 C-USA) NOTES
- 9-2 is the best 11-game start for Rice since 1988-89
- The Owls have not allowed more than 66 points in a game this season
- RIce leads C-USA and ranks 13th nationally in scoring defense (52.9ppg)
- Rice leads C-USA and ranks ninth nationally in 3PT % defense (24.9%)
- Eight different players average 5+ points per game
- Shani Rainey (13.8ppg) and Nicole Iademarco (10.0ppg) lead the team in scoring
- ODU leads the all-time series, 5-1
NORTH TEXAS (3-8, 0-0 C-USA) NOTES
- The Mean Green host Charlotte on Friday
- North Texas has won just one of its last six games entering the weekend
- North Texas welcomed eight newcomers to its active roster this season
- The UNT defense forces 20.7 turnovers per game, which ranks second in C-USA
- Candice Adams (7.6ppg) has made a 3PT in 13 straight games, dating back to last season
- Terriell Bradley (11.7ppg) is the only player averaging double figures
- ODU leads the all-time series, 5-1
TRACKING SIMMS ON THE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
1. Anne Donovan (1979-83), 2,719
9. Clarisse Machanguana (1994-97), 1,813
10. Tia Lewis (2009-12), 1,624
11. Mery Andrade (1995-99), 1,622
12. Jennie Simms (2012-present), 1,620