NEW ORLEANS — The pairings for the second round of the 2024-25 MAC-Sun Belt Basketball Challenge – a scheduling alliance between the Mid-American and Sun Belt Conferences – were announced on Monday and Old Dominion women's basketball will host Toledo on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. at Chartway Arena
The game will mark just the second-ever meeting with the Rockets, who are currently 143rd in the NET rankings. No. 2 seed ODU hosted No. 10 seed Toledo on March 18, 1996 in the second round of the NCAA Championship, a game that went to the Monarchs, 72-66. Esther Benjamin recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, Clarisse Machanguana had 16 points with eight boards, Ticha Penicheiro finished with 15 points and 10 assists, and Mery Andrade contributed 12 points.
The Monarchs (12-5, 4-1 Sun Belt) opened the season at Ball State in the first round of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, falling to the Cardinals 60-46 on Nov. 4, 2024. Mariah Clayton led ODU in the loss with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds, and En’Dya Buford scored 10 points with six rebounds and four assists. The pair also had three steals each. ODU has won six of its last seven games and is 120th in the latest NET rankings.
The Rockets (11-3, 3-1 MAC) are on a three-game win streak and hosted Marshall on Nov. 4, defeating the Thundering Herd, 71-68. Marshall went up 24-8 early in the second quarter, but the hosts clawed back and took their first lead, 56-54 early in the fourth. Hannah Noveroske scored 16 points and Sammi Mikonowicz was right behind her with 15 points to pace the offense. Also finishing in double figures was Khera Goss with 11 points.
MAC-SBC Challenge Women’s Basketball Matchups
Northern Illinois at App State
Bowling Green at Arkansas State
Buffalo at Coastal Carolina
Akron at Georgia Southern
Eastern Michigan at Georgia State
Ball State at James Madison
Miami (Ohio) at Louisiana
Central Michigan at Marshall
Toledo at Old Dominion
Ohio at Southern Miss
Western Michigan at Texas State
Kent State at Troy