Old Dominion (5-0) at William & Mary (2-4)
Game Info – Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Location – Kaplan Arena (Williamsburg, Va.)
Watch – FloHoops ($)
Listen – Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball has its first road game of the season this Thursday when the Monarchs travel to Williamsburg for a 7 p.m. game at William & Mary.
W&M is streaming the game on FloHoops, which runs for a monthly subscription of $8.33. Fans can also hear Matthew Hatfield and Shonda Deberry call the action on Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1 or follow along with live stats.
The Series
ODU leads the all-time series, 61-7 and has won five straight against the Tribe. The two teams met on Nov. 15 last season in Norfolk with the Monarchs coming away with a 59-43 victory. Tied at 25-25 early in the third quarter, a Kaye Clark jumper opened up an 8-0 run and ODU never looked back. Amari Young led the way with 12 points and seven rebounds, Jordan McLaughlin was next with 11 points, six boards, six assists and three steals, and Brianna Jackson flirted with a double-double at 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
About ODU
Defense. That's been the cornerstone to ODU's success so far as the Monarchs are 5-0 for the first time since 1998-99. ODU leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 41.6 points per game. That's nearly five points better than the second-best team, Texas, who is allowing 46.4 ppg. The Monarchs also rank second amongst NCAA Division I programs in field goal percentage defense (29.2), 15th in three-point percentage defense (22.1), 16th in offensive rebounds per game (16.8), 17th in rebounds per game (46.0), 22nd in turnovers forced per game (22.6) and 24th in steals per game (12.0).
That defensive pressure shined in the team's 60-29 win over Elon on Tuesday night. For most of the game, the Phoenix had more turnovers than they did points. The visitors were able to tie the game at 13-13 midway through the second quarter, but ODU outscored the guests 19-6 in the second and 18-3 in the third. The Monarchs turned 27 Elon turnovers into 29 points.
Clark has been one of the key figures in shaping ODU's defensive presence. The graduate student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin enters Thursday's game ranked 10th in the country with 3.80 steals per game and her 19 steals place her 21st. She's also the team's leading scorer with 10.4 ppg.
Also averaging double figures is En'Dya Buford with an even 10 ppg, and she has knocked down a team-high seven three-pointers while shooting .304 from the perimeter. Simone Cunningham leads the Monarchs on the glass with 8.8 rebounds per contest, and she is third in scoring with 6.6 ppg. Mimi McCollister (5.8 ppg) is right behind Buford with six makes from beyond the arc, Brenda Fontana and Mikayla Brown are both averaging 5.6 points, and McLaughlin (4.4 ppg) owns the team high in assists with 11.
Through its first five games, ODU is shooting .345 from the field, .250 from long range, and .667 at the free-throw line. The Monarchs are averaging 60.6 points for a +19.0 scoring margin. The team is looking for its first 6-0 start since the 1997-98 season when ODU captured the CAA Championship, reached the NCAA Sweet 16, and finished with a No. 2 ranking in the AP Poll and a No. 6 ranking in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
About William & Mary
After dropping its first four games to start the season, the Tribe (2-4) put together a couple of wins at the FIU Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24 and 26. W&M defeated Tennessee State 63-53 that Friday, then edged the tournament host Panthers 59-57 that Sunday.
William & Mary is averaging 60.5 points per outing, but opponents are netting 67.2 points for a -6.7 scoring differential. The Tribe is shooting a combined .367 from the floor, including .224 from three-point range, and .766 at the charity stripe. The team comes into Thursday's game ranked third in the CAA in both free throw attempts per game (18.50) and free throws made per game (14.17).
Nylah Young has proven to have the most poise at the line, ranking 16th in the country in both free throw percentage (94.7) and free throws made (36). A forward from Suffolk, she paces W&M with 21.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Next in scoring is Bella Nascimento at 12.7 ppg, Kayla Rolph is at 6.7 ppg, and Cassidy Geddes is fourth at 6.2. Nascimento is the deep threat with 11 threes made on .324 shooting from the arc. Young leads the Tribe with nine steals, Nascimento owns eight, and Rolph and Geddes are at seven steals each.
The Tribe was picked to finish ninth in the CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with Young representing W&M on the Preseason All-CAA Second Team.
Up Next
ODU returns to Chartway Arena this Sunday when the Monarchs host Florida Gulf Coast for a 1 p.m. game.
Monarchs Headed to Williamsburg Thursday to Face the Tribe
