Old Dominion (1-0) vs. Auburn (0-1)
Game Info – Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ESPN Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Tickets – ynottix.com
Game Notes – ODU | Auburn
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion women's basketball team welcomes Auburn to Chartway Arena on Sunday afternoon for the Anne Donovan Classic. A 2 p.m. tip, the game is streaming live on ESPN+ and is being carried over the airwaves on ESPN Radio 94.1 FM.
The Starting Five
The Monarchs are hosting a Power 5 conference member for the first time since Virginia visited Chartway Arena on Nov. 18, 2018. In total, current members of a Power 5 conference have visited Chartway Arena 40 times since its opening in 2002. ODU is 17-23 in those games.
Sunday is a rematch of ODU's thrilling 89-77 win at Auburn on Nov. 14, 2019. Then-sophomore Ajah Wayne scored a career-high 35 points and made six treys while playing in her home state.
The game also serves as the annual Anne Donovan Classic. Donovan was a 1988 inductee into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame and the program's all-time leading scorer. She led ODU to the 1980 AIAW championship and won gold in the 2008 Olympics as the head coach of Team USA.
ODU opened the season with an 80-52 win over South Carolina State on Tuesday. The Monarchs forced 35 turnovers in the win and shot 64.7% (11-17) in the first quarter. Iggy Allen and Ajah Wayne shared the team highs with 15 points and seven rebounds, and all five starters reached double-figures in scoring.
All 14 players that dressed for Tuesday night made an appearance in the game, and 11 scored at least one point. Nine players clocked at least 10 minutes of action, and no one played more than 27 minutes.
Scouting Auburn
The Tigers opened their season on Thursday with a 68-66 home loss to Georgia Southern in the first game of head coach Johnnie Harris' tenure. Auburn led 63-60 with just under two minutes remaining, but GSU scored the next four to go ahead for good.
Harris was a longtime assistant under Vic Shaefer, first at Mississippi State then at Texas. She was named the 2018 WBCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Known for her recruiting prowess, Harris coached current Monarch Iggy Allen for two seasons.
Auburn shot 33.3% from the field, was 5-of-13 from 3-point range and made just 13 of its 22 free throws (.591). In addition, the Tigers turned it over 22 times. Sania Wells paced Auburn with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting and chipped in six rebounds, five assists and two steals and blocks each.
The Tigers return three starters and nine letterwinners from its 2020-21 team that finished 5-19 and 0-15 in SEC play. Honesty Scott-Grayson is Auburn's leading returner in points (14.5), rebounding (4.1), assists (1.7) and steals (2.1). She had 11 points and seven rebounds on Thursday.
The Series
The Monarchs and Tigers are meeting for the eighth time on Sunday in a series that dates back to the 1983-84 season.
ODU upset Auburn 89-77 on the road in the last meeting on Nov. 14, 2019. That win was ODU's first over a Power 5 conference member since the 2014-15 season.
The Monarchs made nine of their 10 shots in the fourth quarter of that game, including 5-of-5 from deep, to break open a two-point game.
Playing in her home state, Ajah Wayne scored a career-high 35 points and add- ed 10 rebounds for a double-double. She shot 14-of-20 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range.
ODU Mourns Loss of Medina Dixon
The Monarch family mourns the loss of Medina Dixon, who recently passed away. Dixon guided Old Dominion to the 1985 NCAA title, the program's third national championship, and was a 2017 inductee into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame. Dixon played three seasons for the Monarchs and was the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 1985 as well as a Kodak First Team All-American and a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award. Known as "Ice," her No. 13 jersey was retired in 2011.
Dixon's service will be held on Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Greater Love Tabernacle in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a GoFundMe created by the Dixon family.
What's Next
The Monarchs close out their three-game homestand on Thursday against George Washington. That game will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be available on CUSA.tv as well as Money Talk 1310 AM, 100.9 FM and 97.3 HD2.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the upcoming 2021-22 season are available now at ynottix.com.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $215 and include tickets for the Monarchs' exhibition on Nov. 6 and all 14 of ODU's regular season home games. Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and $250 for courtside seating and include tickets to all 15 of the Monarchs' home games. Special pricing is available for senior citizens, ODU faculty and staff, and members of the military. Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444 to receive special pricing. New this season, fans can select season tickets for men's games in section 108 for the promotional price of $110. For women's games, fans can select season tickets from sections 107, 108, and 109 for the price of $75.
Season tickets represent a savings of more than $50 for men's games and $45 for women's games, over single-game tickets. Single-game ticket prices start at $18 for men's games and $11 for women's games, with special pricing for senior citizens, ODU faculty and staff, youth (12 and younger) and members of the military. ODU students can register for student tickets for free to any ODU men's and women's home game.
Mask Policy
Old Dominion University updated its mask protocols to enhance the health and safety of the campus community and to reflect updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of August 16, Old Dominion University requires face coverings to be worn when entering all indoor spaces, including Chartway Arena. We encourage you to wear your mask at all times while in the building, with the exception of actively eating or drinking. We will continue to monitor and follow state and CDC guidelines. Fans do not currently have to show proof of vaccination to attend ODU Basketball games at Chartway Arena.
Women’s Basketball Hosts Auburn on Sunday for Anne Donovan Classic
