Old Dominion (4-3) at USC Upstate (1-5)
Game Info – Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. EST
Location – G.B. Hodge Center (Spartanburg, S.C.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ODU Sports Radio Network
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Game Notes – ODU
NORFOLK, Va. – After defeating Temple in the Anne Donovan Classic on Wednesday, the Old Dominion women's basketball team continues its season with a road game at USC Upstate this Saturday, Dec. 3.
The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. EST start and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can hear Matthew Hatfield call the game on the ODU Sports Radio Network and live stats will also be available.
The Series
Saturday will be the third meeting in an all-time series that ODU leads 2-0. The two programs first played each other on Nov. 13, 2012 in Norfolk, Virginia. Jackie Cook scored 24 points to lead the Monarchs to a 73-42 win at home. ODU led by as many as 33 points and turned 34 Spartan turnovers into 34 points. Shae Kelley reached 10 points with seven rebounds and Galaisha Goodhope tallied 12 points with one assist and two steals. The 31-point victory was the team's most since a 73-42 win over George Mason on Jan. 15, 2009 and its most lopsided win in non-conference play since a 97-54 victory over Norfolk State on Nov. 30, 2008.
The last meeting in the series, a Dec. 13, 2020 game at Chartway Arena, also went to the Monarchs, 73-39. Victoria Morris made four three-pointers to lead the way with 19 points. Amari Young (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Ajah Wayne (12 points, 10 rebounds) both contributed double-doubles. ODU led 41-22 at the half, shot 47.6 percent from the field and combined for 17 assists.
About ODU
Mikayla Dickens made four three-point field goals en route to an 18-point performance, Young followed with 16 points, and Jordan McLaughlin netted 10 points as the Monarchs (4-3) secured a 77-65 win over Temple this past Wednesday in the Anne Donovan Classic. ODU combined to make 21-of-22 (.955) of its free-throw attempts. With the win, the Monarchs improved to 3-0 at home this season and 2-0 in the all-time series versus the Owls.
McLaughlin and Dickens are pacing ODU's offense with 10.7 and 10.5 points per game, respectively. Young follows the pair with a 9.7 scoring average and is the team's top rebounder with 51 boards (7.3 per game). McLaughlin owns the team-high in assists with 28 helpers while Young and Brianna Jackson have blocked five shots each. As of Dec. 1, Kaye Clark ranks 13th nationally in both steals (24) and steals per game (3.43).
The Monarchs enter Saturday with a +3.3 scoring margin and are shooting 38.2 percent (166-for-434) from the field, 31.0 percent (35-for-113) from distance, and 61.6 percent (93-for-151) at the free-throw line. ODU ranks 34th in the country and third in the Sun Belt with 21.43 turnovers forced per game. The team's 11.1 steals per game are currently second in the league and 45th nationally.
About USC Upstate
The Spartans (1-5) opened the season with a 69-51 win over Southern Wesleyan University, but have since lost five straight. In their latest outing this past Tuesday, Upstate fell 74-45 at Vanderbilt. Isabella Geraci finished with 13 points and Talia Roldan added 10 points with seven rebounds to lead the Spartans in the loss.
Geraci is averaging double-digit scoring with 10.0 points per outing. Rebekah Gordon averages 8.5 points and Zora Fray-Chinn is at 7.3 points to round out the team's top-three scorers. Geraci has knocked down 6-of-12 shots from beyond the arc and also leads Upstate on the glass with 41 rebounds (6.8 per game). Nyla Walker and AC Markham have combined for 17 assists, Geraci has 14 steals, and Jada Clowers five blocks.
Through its first six games, Upstate has been outscored by an average of 22 points. The Spartans are shooting 35.3 percent (102-for-290) from the floor, 23.0 percent (20-for-87) from three-point range, and 64.1 percent (41-for-64) at the line.
Upstate received 29 points and was picked to finish eighth in the Big South's Preseason Poll after finishing 22-8 (14-4 Big South) last season. The 22 wins tied the program's Division I record and led to former player Rachael Rose earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors. Former coach Becky Burke was tabbed Coach of the Year before she left to take over the head coaching job at Buffalo.
This season's squad has just one returner from 2021-22 in Markham, a sophomore forward from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Spartans added eight transfers for this season: guards Fray-Chinn (Wright State), Trinity Johnson (Presbyterian), Geraci (Cleveland State), and Sofia Allen (Tampa); and forwards Clowers (Alabama A&M), Roldan (Arkansas State), Gordon (Central Michigan), and Courtney Turner (Harcum College). Upstate's four freshmen include guards Jeni Levine, Cali Levine and Walker and forward Vera Soderblom.
Head coach Jason Williams is in his first year leading the Spartan program. He came to Spartanburg following nine seasons as the head coach at Belmont Abbey College, where he guided the Crusaders to five 20-win seasons, three NCAA Division II Tournament appearances (including the program's first-ever Elite Eight appearance in 2021-22), Conference Carolinas regular season championships, and one Conference Carolinas tournament title.
Up Next
The Monarchs open a three-game homestand next Tuesday, Dec. 6 when they host Lincoln (Pa.) for an 11 a.m. contest. The game marks the team's Education Day game as ODU will celebrate thousands of 4th and 5th graders from Norfolk public schools.
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.
Women’s Basketball Away at USC Upstate Saturday
