Old Dominion (9-4, 1-0 SBC) at Southern Miss (5-7, 1-0 SBC) | at ULM (4-8, 0-1 SBC)
Game Info – Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. EST | Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. EST
Location – Reed Green Coliseum (Hattiesburg, Miss.) | Fant-Ewing Coliseum (Monroe, La.)
Watch – ESPN+ (Game 1 | Game 2)
Listen – Fox Sports Radio 1310
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball is opening the new year with a couple of road games as the Monarchs play at Southern Miss on Thursday and at ULM this Saturday. Tipoff against the Lady Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST, and the meeting with the Warhawks will begin at 3 p.m. EST.
Both games will be streamed on ESPN+, and Matthew Hatfield and Shonda Deberry will also cover the action on Fox Sports Radio 1310. Live stats will also be available.
The Series
ODU is ahead 7-4 in the all-time series versus Southern Miss and has won five in a row against the Lady Eagles. Last season saw the Monarchs earn a 68-62 victory in Norfolk on Jan. 6, 2024. Brenda Fontana set a new career high with 19 points and ODU shot 8-for-12 at the line to close out the final two minutes of play.
The Monarchs own a 3-0 record in the series versus ULM. The two teams met in the quarterfinals of last season’s Sun Belt Championship, a game that went to ODU by a final of 67-64. Old Dominion led by as many as many as 16 points late in the third quarter, but the Warhawks pulled ahead, 63-62 on a Daisha Bradford jumper with 45 seconds remaining. Jordan McLaughlin responded with a bucket of her own and made 3-of-4 free throws to close out the game. She led ODU with 19 points, Fontana was next with 15, and Kaye Clark tallied 12 points.
About ODU
The Monarchs (9-4, 1-0) started off conference play with a win as they defeated South Alabama, 82-59 this past Sunday at Chartway Arena. Four players finished with double figures, led by a 19-point effort from En’Dya Buford. Kelsey Thompson was next with 13 points, Simaru Fields netted 12 points and Brenda Fontana chipped in 11 points. It marked the team’s third-straight victory following a 75-58 road win at Howard (Dec. 17) and a 68-58 home win versus Virginia State (Dec. 22).
ODU’s offense is led by Buford’s 12.2 points per game. The graduate student ranks second in the Sun Belt in free throws made (49), third in free throw attempts (63), and fourth in steals (28). She also owns team highs in rebounds (77), rebounds per game (5.9), and assists (41). Fields is close to averaging double-digit scoring with 9.8 ppg and has made a team-high 21 three-pointers. Next in scoring is Thompson at 7.6 ppg, Simone Cunningham (6.4 ppg) enters the week with 69 boards (5.3 rpg) and a team-high 10 blocks, and Mariah Clayton (6.7 ppg) has made eight blocks.
As of Dec. 31, the team ranks fourth in Division I in three-point percentage defense (22.7), 10th in offensive rebounds per game (17.0), 16th in rebounds per game (43.62), and 22nd in field goal percentage defense (35.3). ODU is also second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (58.8 ppg), scoring margin (+4.8), and winning percentage (69.2). The Monarchs come into this week’s games averaging 63.6 ppg and are shooting a combined 36.5% from the field, 25.4% from beyond the arc, and 67.9% at the free-throw line.
ODU is 113th in the latest NCAA NET rankings and is receiving votes in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 Poll.
About Southern Miss
Trinity Rowe was voted Sun Belt Player of the Week on Tuesday after leading the Lady Eagles (5-7, 1-0) to a 73-59 win at Georgia State on Sunday. The freshman guard from Pikeville, Kentucky set a new career high with 25 points as she made 7-of-12 shots from distance, tying the program record for threes made in a game. Also finishing in double figures were Nyla Jean (19 points) and Morgan Sieper (11 points).
Melyia Grayson and Jean pace the offense with 14.0 and 12.8 ppg, respectively. Rowe represents the deep threat with 25 threes made and her 43.9% shooting from the perimeter ranks 27th in the nation. Grayson leads the conference with 55.9% shooting from the floor and enters Thursday’s matchup with 81 rebounds (6.8 rpg) and 12 blocks. Bre Sutton (8.6 ppg) is 25th in the country with 2.83 steals per game and 33rd with 34 steals.
Southern Miss is first in the Sun Belt in assists per game (15.9), second in three-point percentage (33.2), and third in field goal percentage (43.4). The Lady Eagles convert 61.0% of their shots at the line and average 67.6 points against 73.7 points allowed for a -6.1-scoring margin.
Southern Miss was picked to finish seventh in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll with Grayson named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team. The team is listed 252nd in the NET rankings and is led by Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, who is in her 21st season with the program.
About ULM
The Warhawks (4-8, 0-1) have dropped two in a row and are coming off a narrow 63-61 loss at Coastal Carolina on Sunday. ULM led 54-44 with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter, but the Chanticleers seized control 60-58 thanks to a couple of triples by Kristin Williams and a third from Dalanna Carter. Down the stretch, Williams made a pair of free throws and Savannah Brooks added a late 1-for-2 effort at the line to seal the victory. ULM’s Katlyn Manuel recorded a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, Jakayla Johnson scored 13 points, and Cianté Downs ended up with 11 points.
Johnson is the team’s leading scorer with 14.3 ppg, and Meloney Thames also averages double figures with 11.8 ppg. Thames has hit a team-best 19 three-pointers and is second in the league with 95 three-point attempts, though Johnson and Nya Valentine (5.7 ppg) are right behind her with 17 threes apiece. Sakyia White (8.2 ppg) has pulled down 90 rebounds (7.5 rpg), Johnson is up to 23 steals, and Manuel (8.8 ppg) and Laila Walker (4.6 ppg) have combined to make 21 blocks.
The Warhawks average 66.3 points while giving up 67.7 points for a -1.3-scoring margin. The team is shooting 38.3% from the field, including 24.4% from distance, and 74.0% at the charity stripe. ULM leads the Sun Belt in fewest fouls per game (15.4) and is second in free throw percentage and turnovers per game (13.7). Prior to Saturday’s game against ODU, the team will host Georgia Southern on Thursday.
ULM was picked fourth in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll with Johnson named to the Preseason First Team and Manuel to the Second Team. The Warhawks are 160th in the latest NET rankings and are led by second year Head Coach Missy Bilderback.
Up Next
ODU opens a four-game homestand next Wednesday when the Monarchs host Coastal Carolina for a 6:30 p.m. game at Chartway Arena.