Old Dominion (6-2) vs. #24 NC State (5-3)
Game Info – Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Location – James T. Valvano Arena at William Neeal Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.)
Watch – ACCNX
Listen – ESPN Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball has another tough road test this Sunday when the Monarchs head to Raleigh, North Carolina for a 2 p.m. game at No. 24 NC State.
Fans can watch the game on ACCNX or listen to Matthew Hatfield and Shonda Deberry on ESPN Radio 94.1. Live stats will also be available.
The Series
This game will be the 38th meeting between the Monarchs and the Wolfpack. NC State leads the series, 23-14, and has won the past five meetings. When playing in Raliegh, NC State is 9-4.
The two teams met on Dec. 20 last season when ODU hosted then No. 3 NC State in the Anne Donovan Classic. The Wolfpack came away with an 87-50 win and held the Monarchs to under 20 points in each quarter, including just eight points in the second. Brenda Fontana shot 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and finished with 12 points while Nnenna Orji followed with 10 points.
About ODU
The Monarchs (6-2) are coming off a 64-58 win over Oakland in their final game at the Daytona Beach Classic. Simone Cunningham tied her career high in scoring as she recorded an 18-point and 14-rebound double-double. En’Dya Buford also scored in double figures with 16 points, accounting for eight rebounds and five assists as well.
Buford leads the team with 10.6 points per game and ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference in both assists (32) and free throws made (30). Simaru Fields averages 9.4 ppg and has emerged as the team’s top shooter from distance with 13 threes made. Buford is next with seven makes from long range and Kelsey Thompson (7.5 ppg) is third with five long balls. Cunningham (7.3 ppg) leads the team in rebounding with 44 (5.5 rpg), 31 of them offensive boards. Buford has collected a team-best 17 steals, which ties her for fifth in the conference, and Mariah Clayton (6.8 ppg) and Cunningham have combined for 11 blocks.
As a team, ODU ranks third nationally in three-point percentage defense (19.4%) and 12th in offensive rebounds per game (16.8). The Monarchs also lead the Sun Belt in scoring defense with 55.5 points allowed per game and in field goal percentage defense (35.8%) and are second in the league in rebounds per game (42.88). ODU is netting 61.1 ppg for a +5.6-scoring margin and is shooting 35.8% from the field, 25.4% from the perimeter, and 67.3% at the free-throw line.
The Monarchs are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for the second straight week and are listed 125th in the NET rankings through games played on Dec. 5.
About #24 NC State
The Wolfpack (5-3) was voted 24th in this week’s USA Today/WBCA Coaches’ Poll and the team is receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll. Ranked ninth in the AP Poll’s Preseason Poll, NC State looks to get back into the Top 25 after notching a 68-61 victory over No. 18 Ole Miss on Thursday night. Up 55-38 heading into the final quarter, NC State withstood a late charge by the Rebels who scored 23 points over the final 10 minutes. Four played scored in double figures for the Wolfpack: Zoe Brooks led the way with 19 points, Zamareya Jones followed with 14 points, Aziaha James had 11 and Saniya Rivers 10.
James, a Virginia Beach native who played at Princess Anne High School, paces the offense with 16.8 ppg and Brooks is second in scoring with 14.4 ppg. Not far off from averaging double figures are Rivers (9.9 ppg), Jones (9.1 ppg), and Madison Hayes (9.0 ppg). James has made a team-high 17 threes, Jones has knocked down 13 and Hayes 11. On the glass, Hayes pulls down 5.4 rpg, Rivers averages 5.3 rpg, and James is at 5.0 rpg. Rivers owns 10 blocks with 11 steals while James enters Sunday’s contest with 13 steals.
The Wolfpack owns a +9.6-scoring margin with 73.5 ppg while holding opponents to 63.9 ppg. NC State is shooting 45.2% from the floor, including 35.1% from deep, and 62.5% at the charity stripe. The team also commits the second-fewest fouls per game in the country at 11.3, trailing only UConn (11.0). The Wolfpack is also 27th in the NET rankings.
Up Next
ODU will return home on Dec. 15 to take on East Carolina in this year’s Anne Donovan Classic. Tipoff at Chartway Arena is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the 2024-25 season are available now at odusports.com/basketball-season-tickets.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $217 covering all 16 of ODU’s regular season home contests. Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and include tickets to all 16 of the Monarchs' home games. Discounted season ticket rates are available for ODU faculty and staff, ODU letterwinners, young alumni, band and spirit parents and military. Fans also have the option for mini-plans which consist of six men’s games for $84 and six women’s games for $42. Single-game tickets are also on sale. Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444 for more information.