NORFOLK, Va. – An Old Dominion women's basketball team from which much is expected this season got off to an impressive start Monday night, pummeling Christopher Newport, 87-70, in an exhibition at Chartway Arena.
With four returning starters and 10 talented newcomers, the Monarchs were picked to finish second in Conference USA. The Monarchs made 50 percent of their shots, outscored the Captains, 47-26, in the paint and forced them into 31 turnovers and that resulted in 41 ODU points.
Ranked 20th in the Division III NCAA preseason poll, CNU made it competitive only in the first half. Natalie Terwilliger made a three-pointer with 1:54 left in the first quarter to narrow what had been a double-digit ODU lead to six, 25-19.
ODU quickly extended the lead to double figures and led by as many as 28.
"That's a very good Division III team with a very good coach," coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said. "Their pressure had us on our heels a little bit in the beginning.
"I was very happy with how we played. We're going to break down the film and learn from this game."
Milton-Jones said she was ecstatic to be playing basketball after the pandemic.
Last season the Monarchs struggled through a regular season in which several players opted not to play, and eight games were postponed or canceled because of COVID. The Monarchs were so shorthanded that they finished one game with just four players.
They nonetheless won three games in three days in the Conference USA Tournament, including two in overtime, before falling to Rice, 62-60, in the semifinals.
Attendance at regular-season games was limited to 250 or fewer, and fans wore masks and physically distanced, as did players on the bench. Monday's game was the first at Chartway Arena in which attendance wasn't limited.
"It felt really good to have our fans back in the house," said Amari Young, who led ODU with 11 points and added four steals.
"Last year, when we just had 250 people here, it was way different, it was so much quieter. It was good to see a nice crowd. It's good to know the community is coming out to support us."
Milton-Jones said it was "tremendous for us to be back at home under normal circumstances.
"I'm going to celebrate all the small stuff now because we went through hell last season. I think we're experiencing a little bit of heaven right now."
She added that she hopes more fans take advantage of the chance to come see the Monarchs play with fewer pandemic limitations.
"I want the community as a whole to come out and support us," she said. "We have a tremendous team with tremendous women who are gifted with what they do on the basketball court."
Brianna Jackson, Kaye Clark and Kaylen Nelson each scored 10 points for ODU.
Jackson, a Princess Anne High School graduate who transferred from the Miami (Fla.), had 10 points and five rebounds in just 12 minutes, and said she was thrilled because her entire family was able to watch her play.
"I'm just happy to be home," she said. "They can come to many games as possible."
Minium was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in his 39 years at The Virginian-Pilot, where he won 27 writing awards. He covers ODU athletics for odusports.com Follow him on Twitter @Harry_MiniumODU, Instagram @hbminium1 or email hminium@odu.edu
ODU Women's Basketball Team Impresses in Exhibition Win over Christopher Newport
