Old Dominion (6-0) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (6-2)
Game Info – Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball will play its third game in six days when the Monarchs host Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. Opening tip at Chartway Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ with Chip Tarkenton and Kim Aston calling the action. Matthew Hatfield and Shonda Deberry will cover the game on Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1, and live stats will also be available.
The Series
Tomorrow will mark just the second meeting between the two programs. ODU opened its 2022-23 season at FGCU, falling 81-62 to the Eagles on Nov. 7 at Alico Arena. Makayla Dickens led the Monarchs in the loss with 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor, including a 2-for-4 effort from beyond the arc. Jordan McLaughlin made eight of her nine free-throw attempts to finish with 14 points, and Kaye Clark turned in a 10-point performance with one block and four steals.
About ODU
The Monarchs (6-0) are one of 22 teams still undefeated and are coming off a 72-66 win at William & Mary on Thursday. In what was a close game until the final minute of action, McLaughlin and En'Dya Buford combined for eight points in the last 35 seconds to secure the victory. McLaughlin ended up with a new career high of 22 points, Buford followed with 18, and Lanetta Williams also finished in double figures with a season high of 11 points.
Despite giving up a season high in points to the Tribe, the Monarchs are still leading the nation in scoring defense at 45.7 ppg. ODU is also ranked fifth in field goal percentage defense (31.1), seventh in three-point percentage defense (20.4), 22nd in offensive rebounds per game (16.3), 24th in steals per game (11.8) and 25th in rebounds per game (44.83). The team enters Sunday's meeting with FGCU shooting 35.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from distance, and 67.7 percent at the free-throw line.
Buford and Clark pace the offense with 11.3 and 10.2 ppg, respectively. Buford has knocked down a team-high 10 threes, Mimi McCollister (4.8 ppg) is next with six makes and Clark is third with five. On the glass, Simone Cunningham is averaging 7.5 rebounds and Mikayla Brown is second on the team with 5.7 rpg. McLaughlin (7.3 ppg) owns 16 assists and Cunningham has the team high in blocks with seven. Clark's 3.67 steals per game ranks her ninth in the country, and she is also 20th in total steals with 22.
About FGCU
Head coach Karl Smesko has guided the program to 30-win seasons in three of the past four years and the Eagles (6-2) are coming off a 2022-23 campaign that saw them win their 13th Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title, 10th ASUN Tournament title and post its fourth NCAA Tournament victory. FGCU finished the season ranked 24th in the final USA Today/Coaches' Top 25 poll. The Eagles were listed third in CollegeInsider.com's most recent Mid Major Top 25 poll on Nov. 28.
FGCU's only losses so far this season have come to ranked opponents: the Eagles fell 67-51 at No. 21 USC on Nov. 10 and suffered a 100-62 setback to No. 5 Iowa on Nov. 25 in the second round of the Gulf Coast Showcase. The team then capped off the tournament with a 65-64 upset of No. 18 North Carolina on Nov. 26 and the Eagles are coming off a 108-31 victory over NAIA-member Ave Maria this past Wednesday.
The Eagles will certainly test ODU's defense on the perimeter. Through games played on Dec. 1, FGCU ranks third in the country with 32.2 three-point attempts per game and eighth in threes made per game at 10.1. Florida Gulf Coast is shooting a combined 42.3 percent from the floor, including 31.4 percent from long range, and 74.6 percent at the line.
Uju Ezeudu and Dolly Cairns are both netting 13 points per outing to lead FGCU in scoring. Maddie Antenucci is close behind the pair at 12.7 ppg and Ajulu Thatha is next with 9.1 ppg. Four Eagles have made double-digit threes: Cairns leads the way with 18, Antenucci has knocked down 14, Brylee Bartram (5.8 ppg) has made 13 and Ezeudu has hit 11. Ezeudu also leads the team in rebounding (7.5 rpg) and steals (16) while Kierra Adams (3.4 ppg) has made five blocks.
The Eagles were picked as the preseason favorites in the both the ASUN's Preseason Coaches' Poll and its Media Poll, and Ezeudu was selected to the Preseason All-ASUN Team.
Up Next
ODU will make the trip to Newark, Delaware to play a 7 p.m. game at Delaware this Thursday.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the 2023-24 season are available now at odusports.com/tickets.
Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and $500 for courtside seating and include tickets to all 16 of the Monarchs' home games. 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. Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444 to receive special pricing.
Season tickets represent a savings of more than $45 for women's games and $50 for men's games, over single-game tickets. 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.
Single game tickets are also on sale. Click here to purchase tickets.
Monarchs Face Tough Test Against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday
