Game 1 – Old Dominion (8-7, 0-2 Sun Belt) vs. ULM (5-8, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Game 2 – Old Dominion (8-7, 0-2 Sun Belt) vs. South Alabama (4-9, 0-2 Sun Belt)
Game Info – Thursday, Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+ (Game 1 | Game 2)
Listen – ODU Sports Radio Network
Live Stats – Game 1 | Game 2
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Game Notes – ODU
NORFOLK, Va. – After being on the road for nearly a month, the Old Dominion women's basketball team returns to Chartway Arena this week to host a pair of Sun Belt conference games against the University of Louisiana Monroe and South Alabama. Thursday's game versus ULM is set for a 6:30 p.m. start, and Saturday's meeting with South Alabama will tip off at 2 p.m.
Fans can watch both contests on ESPN+ with Chip Tarkenton and Kim Aston calling the action or tune into the ODU Sports Radio Network to listen to Matthew Hatfield and Susan Montgomery. Live stats will also be available.
The Series
ODU and ULM are meeting for the first time on Thursday. Saturday's game marks the 14th meeting in the all-time series versus South Alabama, which the Monarchs lead 10-3. It will be the first time the two programs have faced each other since the 1990-91 season during ODU's first stint in the Sun Belt. In what was the fourth season for former ODU head coach Wendy Larry, the Monarchs came up just short 84-82 on Jan. 17 in Mobile during the regular season. The teams then met again at the conference tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, a March 8 game that went to ODU, 70-67.
About ODU
The Monarchs (8-7, 0-2 SBC) are looking to snap a four-game skid and opened league play with an 81-55 loss at App State on Dec. 29 and a 68-54 loss at James Madison on Dec. 31. ODU was without starting forward Amari Young, who missed both games due to personal reasons.
Makayla Dickens scored a season-high 25 points against the Mountaineers and currently leads the team with 10.7 points per game. Young is also averaging double figures with 10.5 point per contest and is also the top rebounder for the Monarchs with 7.8 boards a game. Next in scoring are Jordan McLaughlin (9.9 ppg) and Kaye Clark (9.1 ppg). On the perimeter, Dickens has knocked down a team-high 28 three-pointers and Clark has made 17 shots from distance. McLaughlin is the leader in made free throws (35) and assists (52), Young and Brianna Jackson have combined to block 17 shots, and Clark currently ranks 11th nationally in steals (43) and 23rd in steals per game (2.87).
ODU is averaging 62.5 points with a +0.8 scoring margin. The Monarchs have combined to shoot .377 (346-for-918) from the field, .268 (75-for-280) from three-point range, and .634 (170-for-268) at the free-throw line. Through games played on Jan. 3, the team ranks 22nd in the country in turnovers forced per game (21.27). ODU is also third in the Sun Belt in steals per game (10.3) and fourth in turnover margin (3.87).
About ULM
The Warhawks (5-8, 1-1 SBC) won their conference opener versus Arkansas State 81-66 last Thursday, but fell 59-49 to Georgia State on Saturday. Myca Trail scored 14 points and Katlyn Manuel tallied 11 points to lead ULM in the loss. The Warhawks made just one of their last 10 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter and were held scoreless for over six minutes.
Manuel and Kierra Brimzy are both averaging 9.2 points to pace the ULM offense, and Olivia Knight is third in scoring with 8.0 points per outing. Knight is also the go-to option from beyond the arc with 19 threes on the season. On the glass, Emma Merriweather is grabbing 7.3 rebounds and Manuel is next with 5.9. Five players own double-digit steals, led by Bre Sutton with 20. Knight has dished out 35 assists while Merriweather ranks second in the league in blocks (21) and blocks per game (1.75).
As a team, ULM is shooting .382 (315-for-824) from the floor, including .248 (26-for-145) from long range, and .642 (185-for-288) at the charity stripe. The Warhawks average 65.5 points per game and have a -1.3 scoring margin. ULM enters Thursday's game ranked 26th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (22.15) and 33rd in offensive rebounds per game (14.8).
The Warhawks were picked to finish last in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches' Poll with 17 points.
About South Alabama
The Jaguars (4-9, 0-2 SBC) dropped a close game to Marshall 63-61 in overtime this past Thursday before falling 58-37 to Southern Miss on Saturday. Against the Herd, the Jags trailed by six with under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but pulled even at 56-56 with 1:19 left in regulation. Neither side could break the tie, though as extra time was needed. In overtime, a Tristen Washington three-pointer evened the score at 61-61 with 33 seconds remaining, but Marshall's Roshala Scott made a pullup jumper with two second left to secure the win.
Kelsey Thompson (8.9 ppg), Nadia Howard (8.3 ppg) and Kiana Anderson (8.0 ppg) are South Alabama's top three scorers. The Jags have multiple threats from distance as four different players have made double-digit threes: Jordan Rosier (6.5 ppg) has a team-high 22, Washington (6.6 ppg) is next with 18, Thompson is at 13, and Casey Ferguson (3.8 ppg) has made 10. Zena Elias (5.9 rpg) and Anderson (5.5 rpg) are the team's top rebounders. Thompson and Howard have combined for 53 assists and 45 steals and Anderson owns a team-best nine blocks.
South Alabama is netting 58.0 points per game and has been outscored by opponents by an average of 5.9 points. The team enters the week shooting .346 (262-for-757) from the field, .280 (81-for-289) from the perimeter, and .623 (149-for-239) at the line. Before coming to Norfolk, South Alabama will head to Atlanta, Georgia for a 5:30 p.m. game at Georgia State on Thursday.
The Jags were picked to finish 13th out of 14 teams in the preseason poll, receiving 38 points.
Up Next
Next week sees the Monarchs heading to Statesboro, Georgia for a 6 p.m. conference game at Georgia Southern on Thursday, Jan. 12. ODU is then back on its home court on Saturday, Jan. 14 for a 4 p.m. meeting with Marshall.
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 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 Ready to Host ULM, South Alabama in Sun Belt Action
