Old Dominion (7-0) at Delaware (4-3)
Game Info – Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Location – Bob Carpenter Center (Newark, Del.)
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 meets an old CAA foe this Thursday when the Monarchs travel to Newark, Delaware for a 7 p.m. game against the Delaware Blue Hens.
Thursday's game will be streamed on FloHoops, which costs a monthly subscription of $8.33. Fans can also hear Matthew Hatfield on Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1 or follow along with live stats.
The Series
ODU holds a 17-8 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 2001-02 season, but Delaware has won the past five straight meetings. ODU and Delaware are playing each other for the first time since Feb. 14, 2013 when the Monarchs fell 86-62 at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Shakeva Richards scored 20 points with six rebounds and Jackie Cook had 12 points with five rebounds and two assists, but the No. 20/22 Blue Hens were paced by All-American Elena Delle Donne's 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Delle Donne also pulled down seven boards with six assists, three blocks and two steals in a game that saw her become the CAA's all-time leader in field goals and free throws.
About ODU
The Monarchs (7-0) find themselves ranked 12th in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll after securing a 55-42 win over Florida Gulf Coast this past Sunday at Chartway Arena. ODU is one of the three Sun Belts teams ranked in the poll as Southern Miss is ninth and James Madison is just ahead of ODU in the 11th spot. Additionally, ULM and Troy are receiving votes in the poll.
The first NET rankings of the season were released on Tuesday, with ODU coming in at No. 97. Southern Miss is the only Sun Belt team with a better NET ranking as the Golden Eagles are listed at No. 81.
ODU comes into Thursday's matchup as the national leader in both scoring defense (45.1 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.173). The Monarchs are also fourth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.312), 24th in rebounds per game (44.14) and 26th in steals per game (11.6). Through its first seven games, the team is shooting .354 from the field, .280 from beyond the arc, and .682 at the free-throw line. ODU is averaging 61.4 ppg for a +16.3 scoring margin.
En'Dya Buford is the leading scorer for the Monarchs at 11.6 ppg. Following her are Jordan McLaughlin (9.4 ppg), Kaye Clark (8.7 ppg) and Simone Cunningham (5.6 ppg). Buford and Mimi McCollister (5.4 ppg) have had the hot hand from distance with 10 and nine made three-pointers, respectively. Cunningham is averaging a team-best 8.7 rebounds while Clark is currently ninth in the country in steals per game (3.43) and 24th in total steals (24).
The Monarchs are one of 20 teams that are still undefeated.
About Delaware
The Blue Hens (4-3) have won three in a row after defeating Vermont 73-66 on Nov. 26, American 68-58 on Nov. 29 and Duquesne 74-57 on Dec. 3. UD has also played FGCU this season, falling 83-68 to the Eagles on Nov. 24 at the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida.
Through games played on Dec. 5, Delaware is second in the CAA in field goal percentage (.441) and is third in the league in scoring offense (73.6 ppg) and three-pointers per game (6.7). The Blue Hens are 128th in the NET rankings and are also shooting .351 from long range and .713 at the line. The team has outscored its opponents by an average of 4.3 points and also owns a +4.4 rebounding margin with 40.4 rpg.
Senior guard Tara Cousins (17.9 ppg) was named the CAA Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 23.0 points on 63.0 percent (17-for-27) shooting in Delaware's two wins last week. She also made 60.0 percent (9-for-15) of her shots from the perimeter while grabbing 6.5 rebounds per contest. She is currently 17th in the nation with 3.14 threes per game and also leads the CAA in three-pointers (22) and three-point percentage (.423).
Klarke Sconiers and Chloe Wilson are tied for second on the team in scoring with 13.1 ppg, while Sydney Boone is fourth at 10.9 ppg. Darrionna Howard (5.4 ppg) is the top rebounder with a 7.3 average, Cousins has 11 steals and Sconiers has made six blocks.
The Blue Hens were picked to finish fourth in the CAA Preseason Poll as Sconiers and Wilson earned Preseason Honorable Mentions Honors.
Up Next
The Monarchs will make the trip to Richmond on Sunday, Dec. 17 for a 1 p.m. road game against VCU.
Road Game at Delaware Up Next for ODU Women's Basketball
