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This Saturday the ODU LM will play the Western Kentucky University Lady Toppers in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers are 21-6 on the season and 13-2 in Con USA. They have the highest RPI in the league, 50. SOS is 127. At home they are 13-1. This is a team that is in the drivers seat for the conference regular season title. All they have to is just win. Standing in there way…ODU

Why is WKU so good? In one word: Defense. If you look at just the conference only stats, the WKU is holding teams to an average of 60.7 ppg. No team in conference gives up fewer points than the Hilltoppers. They also average 10.53 steals per game, which is number two in the league. It’s a key part of the team’s defense.

As a team, WKU averages 10.2 turnovers per game. Fewest turnovers in the conference. (Number two on the list is Middle Tennessee with 14.0 turnovers per game) The Lady Toppers do a great job of taking care of the ball. ODU will have to limit there turnover and try to create some turnovers in this game to have a chance to win.

WKU shots 75.9% from the free throw line. That is tied for tops in the league.

Last but not least, they a quality rebounding team. Based on stats, ODU is better. However they are an aggressive team down low and will give ODU a battle. Last time they faced each other, ODU won 34-31 in the battle of the boards. But the LM still lost the game by five.

WKU’s head coach Michelle Clark-Heard has a strong group of players to make a run for the title this year. They are lead by senior PG 5’11” Kendall Noble who is a 2 time Conf Defensive Player of the Year winner. (As well as the 2016 conference player of the year) This season she is averaging 15.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg, 47.8 FG%, 25.8 3P%, and 83.1 FT%. It’s a solid campaign.

WKU starts three forwards all 6’1” or taller. That type of size is not common in the conference.

Ivy Brown F Jr 6’1” averages 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 bpg, 56.2 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 85.7 FT%, and is a big part of the team’s success. In addition 6’1” Jr F Tashia Brown is averaging 13.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 41.2 FG%, 28.9 3P%, 72.1 FT% form an offensive front court. 6’2” RS Junior Kyvin Goodin-Rogers is averaging 9.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg since conference play started.

The team’s final starter is SG Micah Jones. The 5’8” Rs Sr is averages 6.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg while shooting 30.4% from beyond the arc in conference stats. She is a three point shooter, as 70% of what she shots is for three.

All in all, WKU will play there starters for the majority of the game. It’s a solid team with height, three point shooting, two guards that average 4 apg (in other words, two floor generals) and they play solid defense. Rest assured this is not going to be an easy game for ODU to win.

What does ODU have? Jennie Simms. Leads the conference in scoring, second in the nation. But last time she played WKU at home she was held to 13 points. That the fewest points she has scored this season in conference play. I told you, WKU plays defense. And when asked for ODU WKU’s head coach said “we have to guard Jennie because she is playing great ball right now.” So we know that they will guard Simms. It’s up to her teammates to help her out.

Destinee Young. I probably don’t talk about her enough on this board. Right now she is leading the conference in rebounding with 11.1 board per game. Right now she is averaging 11.8 ppg. Right now she is the ONLY player in the conference averaging a double double. Her 1.4 blockers per game is fourth in the conference. You need somebody to do the dirty work down below and that is Young.

GG Smith. Yeah I know. Her last game out she scored zero point against Marshall. But before that she had been averaging 9.6 points in her last five games. That is what we are going to need when facing WKU. We need a third shooter.

Of course a fourth shooter wouldn’t hurt. Annika Holopainen. If ever there was an X factor, it’s Annika. Last two games has averaged 14 and 7 boards. Over the last ten games she has averaged 9.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Because she is 6’1” we can use her height against WKU both on the inside and outside. Her entire play is based on confidence. (she has said this multiple times throughout the season) If her shot falls early, look out.

AJ helps the team do whatever. She rebounds (5.1 rpg last 7 games), plays defense, and does the little things that you need. When she is on, she is a lot of fun to watch.

KB has settled on a rotation of Timmons, Brown and Oigbokie. Simms and Young will play as long as needed in this game (or they don’t get into foul trouble) All of them are giving solid minutes and numbers off the bench. It’s worth noting that freshman Jessica Munoz made a return in the last game after sitting out 8 games with a left hand injury. I thought she might be done for the season. Glad to know that I was wrong.

For WKU this will be senior night. Emotions will run high for the Lady Toppers as they will want to win it for there seniors. Also ODU has yet to beat this team since we have been conference USA. It’s not going to be easy. But as the saying goes, “If you want to be the best you have to beat the best”.

Standings
WKU 13-2
Middle Tennesse 12-3 (plays Sunday vs UAB)
Southern Miss 11-5 (vs North Texas)
La Tech 11-5 (vs Rice)
ODU 10-5
Charlotte 9-6 (@ Marshall)

If ODU wants a 4 seed, we need to win this game. If we don’t we will probably find ourselves in a tie with Charlotte again and we become a longshot for a first round bye.

The Simms Watch
5. Celeste Hill (1990-94): 2,112
6. Jennie Simms (2012-now): 2,010

(02-24-2017 09:39 PM)A view from the stands Wrote:  This Saturday the ODU LM will play the Western Kentucky University Lady Toppers in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers are 21-6 on the season and 13-2 in Con USA. They have the highest RPI in the league, 50. SOS is 127. At home they are 13-1. This is a team that is in the drivers seat for the conference regular season title. All they have to is just win. Standing in there way…ODU

Why is WKU so good? In one word: Defense. If you look at just the conference only stats, the WKU is holding teams to an average of 60.7 ppg. No team in conference gives up fewer points than the Hilltoppers. They also average 10.53 steals per game, which is number two in the league. It’s a key part of the team’s defense.

As a team, WKU averages 10.2 turnovers per game. Fewest turnovers in the conference. (Number two on the list is Middle Tennessee with 14.0 turnovers per game) The Lady Toppers do a great job of taking care of the ball. ODU will have to limit there turnover and try to create some turnovers in this game to have a chance to win.

WKU shots 75.9% from the free throw line. That is tied for tops in the league.

Last but not least, they a quality rebounding team. Based on stats, ODU is better. However they are an aggressive team down low and will give ODU a battle. Last time they faced each other, ODU won 34-31 in the battle of the boards. But the LM still lost the game by five.

WKU’s head coach Michelle Clark-Heard has a strong group of players to make a run for the title this year. They are lead by senior PG 5’11” Kendall Noble who is a 2 time Conf Defensive Player of the Year winner. (As well as the 2016 conference player of the year) This season she is averaging 15.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg, 47.8 FG%, 25.8 3P%, and 83.1 FT%. It’s a solid campaign.

WKU starts three forwards all 6’1” or taller. That type of size is not common in the conference.

Ivy Brown F Jr 6’1” averages 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 bpg, 56.2 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 85.7 FT%, and is a big part of the team’s success. In addition 6’1” Jr F Tashia Brown is averaging 13.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 41.2 FG%, 28.9 3P%, 72.1 FT% form an offensive front court. 6’2” RS Junior Kyvin Goodin-Rogers is averaging 9.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg since conference play started.

The team’s final starter is SG Micah Jones. The 5’8” Rs Sr is averages 6.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg while shooting 30.4% from beyond the arc in conference stats. She is a three point shooter, as 70% of what she shots is for three.

All in all, WKU will play there starters for the majority of the game. It’s a solid team with height, three point shooting, two guards that average 4 apg (in other words, two floor generals) and they play solid defense. Rest assured this is not going to be an easy game for ODU to win.

What does ODU have? Jennie Simms. Leads the conference in scoring, second in the nation. But last time she played WKU at home she was held to 13 points. That the fewest points she has scored this season in conference play. I told you, WKU plays defense. And when asked for ODU WKU’s head coach said “we have to guard Jennie because she is playing great ball right now.” So we know that they will guard Simms. It’s up to her teammates to help her out.

Destinee Young. I probably don’t talk about her enough on this board. Right now she is leading the conference in rebounding with 11.1 board per game. Right now she is averaging 11.8 ppg. Right now she is the ONLY player in the conference averaging a double double. Her 1.4 blockers per game is fourth in the conference. You need somebody to do the dirty work down below and that is Young.

GG Smith. Yeah I know. Her last game out she scored zero point against Marshall. But before that she had been averaging 9.6 points in her last five games. That is what we are going to need when facing WKU. We need a third shooter.

Of course a fourth shooter wouldn’t hurt. Annika Holopainen. If ever there was an X factor, it’s Annika. Last two games has averaged 14 and 7 boards. Over the last ten games she has averaged 9.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Because she is 6’1” we can use her height against WKU both on the inside and outside. Her entire play is based on confidence. (she has said this multiple times throughout the season) If her shot falls early, look out.

AJ helps the team do whatever. She rebounds (5.1 rpg last 7 games), plays defense, and does the little things that you need. When she is on, she is a lot of fun to watch.

KB has settled on a rotation of Timmons, Brown and Oigbokie. Simms and Young will play as long as needed in this game (or they don’t get into foul trouble) All of them are giving solid minutes and numbers off the bench. It’s worth noting that freshman Jessica Munoz made a return in the last game after sitting out 8 games with a left hand injury. I thought she might be done for the season. Glad to know that I was wrong.

For WKU this will be senior night. Emotions will run high for the Lady Toppers as they will want to win it for there seniors. Also ODU has yet to beat this team since we have been conference USA. It’s not going to be easy. But as the saying goes, “If you want to be the best you have to beat the best”.

Standings
WKU 13-2
Middle Tennesse 12-3 (plays Sunday vs UAB)
Southern Miss 11-5 (vs North Texas)
La Tech 11-5 (vs Rice)
ODU 10-5
Charlotte 9-6 (@ Marshall)

If ODU wants a 4 seed, we need to win this game. If we don’t we will probably find ourselves in a tie with Charlotte again and we become a longshot for a first round bye.

The Simms Watch
5. Celeste Hill (1990-94): 2,112
6. Jennie Simms (2012-now): 2,010

Always great game review and insight. Thanks, hope Saturday we log that 1st win against WKU as Conference mates and start a streak to even out the win record moving forward.

At the half. WKU 41, ODU 33.

This is a strange game. Simms has one point. But we are getting the offensive from Annika 11, AJ with 8, and Young with 7. ODU is winning the battle of the boards 20-12, but has 9 turnover (4 by Simms). WKU has scored 14 points off turnovers. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. WKU has turned over the ball one time in this game. Also they are 6-for-14 from the 3 point line. ODU needs to guard that three point line a bit better.

While Simms only scored a single point, there All-Conference player Kendall Noble has yet to score a point either. I don't think anyone expected that.

Foul wise...if you can believe it...WKU has been called three times for fouls. For ODU Simms and Brown each have two, Annika and Timmons have one. Brown left the game in the second quarter with an apparent injury.

Final Score. WKU 79. ODU 73.

The numbers were solid for ODU. 50.9% from the floor, 11-for-12 from the FT line, 6-for-14 from the three. Outrebounded 40-22. What killed ODU though was turnovers. ODU 18 turnovers, many of them unforced. WKU had 5 turnovers in comparison.

Simms suffered an ankle sprain in yesterday's practice. She didn't start. Yet she finishes with 18 points, 7 boards, 3 assists. (remember she had one point at the half) It was a great performance by her all things considered.

Annika had 18 points with three boards. She fouled out early in the fourth quarter on what is a VERY questionable ticky tacky foul. Young had 9 points, 11 boards. AJ had 10 points, 8 boards.

There were a lot of positives in this game. However......the turnovers killed us. And that was on us, the passes were way off at times. The fouls were questionable at best at times by the refs. To say the least, they didn't help us. We had chances to win this game.

Yes we lost the game. Yes we are tied with the 49ers who have the tie breaker over us. That makes the 4th seed impossible. But we proved that we can play with this team with our best player injured. We will be ready for the tournament. We just have to clean up our ball handling skills. We have time.