Old Dominion (6-3) vs. VCU (3-6)
Game Info – Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 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. – Old Dominion women's basketball continues its homestand this Thursday as the Monarchs welcome VCU for a 6:30 p.m. EST game at Chartway Arena. The game marks ODU's Ugly Sweater Night.
Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ with Chip Tarkenton and Kim Aston on the call or tune into the ODU Sports Radio Network to hear Matthew Hatfield and Susan Montgomery. Live stats will also be available.
The Series
ODU and VCU continue their rivalry with the 80th meeting in the all-time series that the Monarchs lead, 60-19. The two programs met on Nov. 21 last season in what marked ODU's first road game of the season. The Monarchs couldn't make a shot from beyond the arc and went 10-for-19 (.526) at the line as ODU fell 71-48 at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia. Ajah Wayne scored 13 points and Amari Young added 10 points with six rebounds to lead the Monarchs in the loss.
About ODU
The Monarchs (6-3) hosted Lincoln (Pa.) for an Education Day game this past Tuesday, defeating the Lions 81-64 for ODU's fourth-straight victory. Four players scored in double figures for ODU, led by Jada Duckett with a new career high of 16 points. Jordan McLaughlin followed with 14 points, Makayla Dickens scored 11 points and Young recorded a double-double, her second in as many games, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
McLaughlin (11.7 ppg) and Young (10.0 ppg) lead the Monarchs in scoring, while Dickens is approaching a double-digit average with 9.8 points per contest. Dickens and Kaye Clark have proven to be the top shooters from beyond the arc with 14 and 10 made three-pointers, respectively. Young is ODU's top rebounder with 8.1 boards per game and Brianna Jackson is second on the team with 5.6. McLaughlin owns the team high in assists with 36 while Young and Jackson have combined for 14 blocks. Clark continues to find herself near the top of the national rankings as she's currently seventh with 32 steals and 11th with 3.56 steals per game.
As a team, the Monarchs are currently second in the Sun Belt and 24th in the country with 22.33 turnovers forced per game. ODU also ranks 41st in both steals per game (11.1) and turnover margin (5.44). The team enters Thursday's matchup shooting .394 (223-for-566) from the floor, .286 (44-for-154) from three-point range and .617 (108-for-175) at the free-throw line. The Monarchs own a +7.3 scoring margin, are averaging 66.4 points per game and have also out-rebounded their opponents by an average of 2.3 boards per outing.
About VCU
The Rams (3-6) are looking to avoid their third loss in a row after coming up short against James Madison 62-60 on Dec. 1 before falling 69-51 at East Carolina on Dec. 4. In their most recent outing, the Pirates turned 30 VCU turnovers into 31 points. ECU built a 27-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Timaya Lewis-Eutsey paced the Rams with eight points and five rebounds while Mary-Anna Asare netted eight points with four rebounds.
Sarah Te-Biasu is the Rams' top scorer, averaging 14.9 points. Following her are Chloe Bloom (8.3 ppg) and Asare (7.8 ppg). Te-Biasu is also the team leader in three-point field goals made (15), assists (25) and steals (24). The junior from Montreal, Canada ranks 26th in the country in steals and 48th in steals per game (2.67). On the glass, Bloom is pulling down 5.8 rebounds a game and Janika Griffith-Wallace is second with 4.7 rebounds.
VCU has combined to shoot .395 (193-for-489) from the field, .243 (34-for-140) from distance, and .772 (105-for-136) at the charity stripe. The Rams are netting 58.3 points per game and have been outscored by an average of 3.1 points. However, the team is in the positive when it comes to rebounding: the Rams come into Thursday with a +3.0-rebounding margin.
In the A10 Preseason Poll, VCU was picked to finish fifth with 152 total points after making an appearance in the WNIT last season. Additionally, Te-Biasu represented the team with a Preseason All-Conference First Team selection. The Rams finished 16-12 overall with a 9-5 mark in league play for 2021-22.
This year's squad features nine returners and five newcomers. Back for the Rams are guards Te-Biasu, Griffifth-Wallace, Grace Hutson, and Adebukola Akomolafe; forwards Keowa Walters, Samantha Robinson, Mykel Parham and Elze Motekaityte; and forward/center Bloom. Joining the team this season are guards Anisja Harris (Florida A&M), Lewis-Eutsey, Asare and Deniz Torgut and forward Jennifer Ezeh (Missouri State).
Up Next
The Monarchs round out their homestand this Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Norfolk State.
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 Back in Action Thursday as the Monarchs Host VCU
