NEW ORLEANS – This year's Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was released on Monday morning and Old Dominion women's basketball has been picked to finish fourth. The poll was voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.
The Monarchs, who reached the conference tournament semifinals last season, received 149 total points. Defending Sun Belt champion James Madison was picked as the preseason favorite with nine first-place votes and 186 points. Troy landed in the No. 2 spot with three first-place votes and 177 points, and Southern Miss was selected third with one first-place vote and 159 points.
When asked about the results of the poll, head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said that it is, "Motivation."
ODU returns five players from last year's squad that finished 22-12 overall and 12-6 against Sun Belt opponents. Guards Kaye Clark and Jordan McLaughlin are the two starters back for the Monarchs, and other returners include guard Joy Campbell, center Mikayla Brown and forward Brenda Fontana. The team has 10 newcomers for 2023-24: guards La'Dajah Huguley, Halima Salat, Mimi McCollister and En'Dya Buford; guard/forwards Simone Cunningham and Ivi Nikolova; forwards De'Shawnti Thomas, Nnenna Orji and Lanetta Williams; and forward/center Jenny Nkem Womsi.
The team will host Christopher Newport for an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the upcoming 2023-24 season are available now at odusports.com/tickets.
Men's basketball season tickets start at $215 and include tickets for the Monarchs' exhibition on Oct. 25 and all 15 of ODU's regular season home games. Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and $500 for courtside seating and include tickets to all 15 of the Monarchs' home games. 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 $15 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.
Sun Belt Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. James Madison (9) – 186
2. Troy (3) – 177
3. Southern Miss (1) – 159
4. Old Dominion – 149
5. Georgia Southern (1) – 131
6. Louisiana – 117
7. Texas State – 116
8. Arkansas State – 87
9. Marshall – 85
10. Coastal Carolina – 72
11. ULM – 71
12. App State – 54
13. Georgia State – 46
14. South Alabama – 20
Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss, Sr., G
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Domonique Davis, Southern Miss, Sr., G
Terren Ward, Georgia Southern, Sr., G/F
Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas State, Jr., G
Makayia Hallmon, Troy, Sr., G
Roshala Scott, Marshall, Sr. G
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison, R-So., G
Ja'Mia Hollings, Troy, Sr., F
Lanay Wheaton, Louisiana, Jr., G
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison, R-Jr., C
Tai'Sheka Porchia, Troy, Sr., F
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Deja Richardson, Coastal Carolina, Gr., G
Emily Carver, App State, Jr., G
Daisha Bradford, ULM, Sr., G
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State, Jr., G
Kelsey Thompson, South Alabama, So., G
Sun Belt Releases Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, Monarchs Picked Fourth
