ODU Women's Basketball Is Absolutely Dominant in 63-39 Victory Over William & Mary
By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – With two games against nationally-ranked teams on the horizon, and Thanksgiving and final exams right around the corner, the Old Dominion women’s basketball team could have been distracted Tuesday night.
Instead, the Monarchs hit the court at Chartway Arena focused and determined to be absolutely dominant.
Displaying mid-season form, and postseason physicality, the Monarchs rolled past William and Mary, 63-39, at Chartway Arena.
It was the fifth victory in a row for ODU (5-1), and clearly the best performance by the Monarchs so far this season.
Kelsey Thompson, the transfer from South Alabama, led the Monarchs with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, but otherwise the scoring was balanced, as Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones substituted liberally throughout.
Thirteen players played and 11 scored. Thompson logged by far the most playing time at 30:14.
Mikayla Brown had eight points and five rebounds in just 14 minutes and Simone Cunningham, En'Dya Buford and Hama’ya Fielder each had six points.
William & Mary’s (1-5) only victory this season was over Division II Chowan University and the competition clearly gets more difficult for the Monarchs later this week.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, the Monarchs take on No. 11 Ohio State in the Daytona Beach Classic in Florida. They meet Oakland Saturday, also in Daytona Beach, and then travel to No. 20 North Carolina State on Dec. 8.
Milton-Jones was aware that Thanksgiving could be a distraction, so the Monarchs held their own Thanksgiving celebration Sunday at the Priority Club at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
“We had food catered,” she said. “We had collard greens, cornbread, turkey, wings, baked barbecue chicken, dressing, sweet potato pies. We had the works and had our girls, our managers and our practice players all come, and we broke bread with one another in our ODU family.”
“I’ve had my Thanksgiving, so I’m happy,” added Thompson. “As a team, we take so much time together. We take time for basketball, for school work, and this week, for Thanksgiving.
“We already feel like we had Thanksgiving.”
The game drew a crowd of 2,536, the largest of the season, and included hundreds of local students participating in the Stars of Honor Program, which rewards students who have performed well in school.
"Just to get in the game and feeling that energy from the fans, it was really enjoyable," Thompson said.
"I'm happy that I'm playing here."
Milton-Jones said her team played stellar defense against the Tribe.
“We held them under 40 points and that really speaks volumes to the committed effort we had on defense,” she said.
ODU outscored the Tribe, 21-0, on fast-break attempts and 26-10 off turnovers. The Monarchs outrebounded the Tribe, 42-35, and had 12 steals.
ODU led 11-2 early and quickly put the game away in the second quarter.
The Monarchs led, 15-8, just 90 seconds in the second quarter when they went on a quick, 14-0 run.
Fielder got things going with back-to-back three-point shots.
Buford then blocked an attempted jump shot from W&M’s Cassidy Geddes, rebounded the ball and passed to Sarah Fitzgerald, who made a three-point shot off the fast break.
Fields then added a jump shot, Brown made one of two free throws and Thompson added a fast-break layup, and with 4:20 to go, ODU led 29-8.
Thompson followed up on her missed shot just before the buzzer sounded to give ODU a 33-16 lead at the half.
"Tonight's victory is one I'm really pleased with," Milton-Jones said. "Everyone contributed in some fashion. We did a great job of flying around.
"It was a great game to get under our belts as we prep for Ohio State and Oakland."
The Monarchs are not at home again until Sunday, Dec. 15, when they host East Carolina in the Anne Donovan Classic at 3:30 p.m. It is a doubleheader with the men’s basketball team, which hosts Northeastern at 1 p.m.
Fans with a ticket to one game may attend both games.