Old Dominion (7-3) vs. Norfolk State (9-1)
Game Info – Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. EST
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ODU Sports Radio Network
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Game Notes – ODU
NORFOLK, Va. – It's a battle of Norfolk's two NCAA Division I schools this Sunday as Old Dominion women's basketball hosts Norfolk State for a 2 p.m. EST game at Chartway Arena.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Chip Tarkenton and Kim Aston on the call. Fans can also hear Matthew Hatfield and Susan Montgomery on the ODU Sports Radio Network or follow along with live stats.
The Series
Sunday's game will be the 27th meeting between the two programs. ODU is ahead 23-3 in the all-time series and took last year's matchup, a Dec. 12 game at Chartway Arena, by the final score of 76-47. The sixth victory in a row for the Monarchs, ODU outscored the visitors 24-11 in the second quarter and 22-11 in the third. Iggy Allen recorded a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double and Ajah Wayne led both sides with 16 points. Also scoring in double figures were Taleah Washington (12 points) and Amari Young (10 points).
About ODU
The Monarchs (7-3) earned their fifth win in a row this past Thursday as they defeated VCU, 61-44. Down 27-25 at the break, ODU outscored the Rams 26-4 in the third quarter to take over the game. Young was two boards shy of a double-double as the North Augusta, South Carolina native finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, five steals and one assist. Kaye Clark was next with 12 points and Makayla Dickens knocked down 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points.
ODU's offense is paced by Jordan McLaughlin (11.2 ppg), Young (10.7 ppg), Dickens (9.9 ppg) and Clark (9.1 ppg). Dickens has knocked down a team-high 17 three-pointers and Clark follows her with 12. Young is averaging 8.1 rebounds per outing and Brianna Jackson is the team's next best rebounder with a 5.3 average. McLaughlin has the team-high in assists with 41 while Young and Jackson have combined for 15 blocks. Clark currently ranks sixth in the nation in steals (34) and is also 13th in steals per game (3.40).
As a team, the Monarchs rank 25th in turnovers forced per game (22.10), 34th in steals per game (11.3) and 38th in turnover margin (5.40). ODU is shooting a combined .398 (247-for-621) from the field, .302 (51-for-169) from three-point range, and .620 (114-for-184) at the free-throw line. The Monarchs average 65.9 points per contest and own a +8.3 scoring margin.
About Norfolk State
Sunday's opponents have had a strong start to their season. The Spartans (9-1) have won eight in a row and are currently 72nd in the latest NCAA NET rankings (ODU is 126th). Defense has played a key role to the team's success: NSU ranks third in field goal percentage defense (30.9), eighth in scoring defense (50.6), 15th in winning percentage (90.0), 22nd in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.9), and 23rd in turnovers forced per game (22.20).
Their latest outing was a 71-64 win at home versus NJIT on Dec. 3. Camille Downs tallied 22 points as she shot 7-for-14 from the floor, 2-for-5 from distance and 6-for-6 at the line. She added four steals, two rebounds, one block and one assist to her totals. Deja Francis ended the game with 15 points and Kierra Wheeler was right behind her with 14 points.
NSU currently has three players averaging double-digit scoring: Francis leads the way (14.0 ppg), Wheeler (12.0 ppg) is second and Downs (11.4 ppg) third. On the glass, Wheeler has pulled down 8.9 rebounds per game and Makoye Diawara follows her with 7.6 rebounds per game. Downs and Crystal White have both made 11 three-pointers and Downs is also shooting .825 (33-for-40) at the charity stripe. Francis leads the team in assists (41), Downs has 32 steals, and the duo of Wheeler and Mahoganie Williams have posted eight blocks each.
Francis ranks second in free throw attempts (75) and third in free throws made (56). Downs is 10th in the country in steals (32) and 20th in steals per game (3.20), and Wheeler ranks 21st nationally in field goal percentage (61.2) and 25th in both double doubles (4) and rebounds (89).
The Spartans have outscored opponents by an average of 19.7 points and are shooting .440 (259-for-588) from the floor, .296 (42-for-142) from beyond the arc and .719 (143-for-199) at the line. NSU was picked to finish second in the MEAC's Preseason Poll as Downs and Francis landed on the preseason first team and Williams was named to the second team.
NSU went 17-12 overall and tied for first with an 11-3 mark in league play last season. The Spartans brought back seven letterwinners from that team, to include all five of its starters in Downs, Francis, Williams, Diawara and Niya Fields. NSU's newcomers include guard/forward Danielle Robinson and forwards Wheeler and Skye Robinson.
Up Next
ODU is headed down to Florida for the second time this season as the Monarchs will play in the inaugural Sun Coast Challenge, hosted by Pasco-Hernando State College on Dec. 19-20. ODU will play Mississippi State to open the tournament, then take on New Mexico the next day. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the 2022-23 season are available now at ynottix.com.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $215 and include tickets for the Monarchs' exhibition on Nov. 2 and all 16 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.
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 tickets for regular season men's and women's basketball games will go on sale later in the month. 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.
Monarchs and Spartans Meet Sunday Afternoon at Chartway Arena
