WBB Game 28, Conf game 18, ODU 16-12 (11-6) vs UTSA 13-15 (9-8), Senior Day
This Saturday is senor day for the ODU LM. This is the final game of the regular season. We will face UTSA Roadrunners, who beat us last year 67-70 in the team's lone game. Two years ago we beat them 52-51 in Norfolk, but lost 49-63 in the tournament. So this team has had success against ODU.
Fourth year head coach Lubomyr Lichonczak (who was once head coach at Radford and won six straight Big South tournaments) has his team at 13-15 on the season (12-14 against D-I teams), 9-8 in the conference. They have an RPI ranking of 198 and SOS of 147.
Vs Angelo State L 77-85 Division Two school, does not count in RPI.
@ TX Arlington 18-7 (11-4) 99 54-75 L
Vs Tx A&M-Kingsville DW 70-44. Div 2 school
@ Oregon 19-12 (9-10) 40 63-77 L
UTSA Thanksgiving Classic
Vs Northern Colorado 20-7 (13-4) 125 66-73 L
Vs Tulane 16-13 (7-9) 64 66-75 L
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Vs Abilene Christian 18-8 (15-2) 106 71-68 W
Vs Texas St. 16-11 (10-5) 148 72-47 W
@ Texas 22-7 (15-3) 13 43-76 L
RAE & CRAIG BLAIR Memorial Touranment
Vs Houston 11-18 (4-12) 178 49-56 L
Vs Liberty 11-16 (11-6) 246 80-64 W
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@ UTEP 7-21 (5-12) 303 83-81 W
Vs Southern Miss 19-9 (12-5) 124 68-69 L
Vs Louisiana Tech 16-11 (12-5) 143 63-61 W
@ Florida Atlantic 3-24 (0-17) 337 72-62 W
@ Florida Intl. 5-23 (3-14) 305 70-61 W
Vs UTEP 7-21 (5-12) 303 97-76 W
Vs Marshall 10-16 (4-13) 256 81-88 L
Vs W. Kentucky 23-6 (15-2) 42 80-77 W
@ Middle Tenn. St. 19-9 (14-3) 77 63-77 L
@ UAB 13-14 (7-10) 180 82-67 W
@ Southern Miss 19-9 (12-5) 124 71-74 L
@ Louisiana Tech 16-11 (12-5) 143 71-77 L
Vs Rice 16-11 (8-9) 162 61-66 L
Vs North Texas 11-17 (8-9) 183 55-58 L
Vs Florida Intl. 5-23 (3-14) 305 69-55 W
Vs Florida Atlantic 3-24 (0-17) 337 97-66 W
@ Charlotte 19-9 (11-6) 112 67-78 L
@ ODU 16-12 (11-6) RPI: 118
It defies all logic to me how a school loses to a division two team and then beats WKU. To Angelo State's credit, they are a good program. (currently 23-4 and were in the top 25 at one point)
Roadrunners Starting Five (Conf Only Stats)
#32 Loryn Goodwin 5'9" G Jr 17.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 3.1 spg, 37.9 FG%, 27.1 3P%, 74.8 FT%, 37.4 mpg
#30 Tesha Smith 6'1" C Sr 19.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 58.5 FG%, 69.4 FT%, 27.3 mpg
#31 Carlie Heineman 6'0" G Jr 9.5 mpg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 36.6 FG%, 39.3 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 34.4 mpg
#04 Crystal Chidomere 5'11" Jr G 7.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 43.2 FG%, 77.8 FT%, 30.1 mpg
#01 Kasia Kiejdrowska 6'0" F Sr 8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 35.8 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 84.0 FT%, 28.1 mpg
Top bench
#21 Marie Benson 6'1" F Fr 6.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.3 apg, 47.4 FG%, 70.0 FT%, 17.9 mpg
Smith and Goodwin are a strong one-two punch that play mostly inside. (Goodwin takes an occasional three) Heineman is the team's three point shooter, but you have to guard Kiejdrowska as well. As a team they shot 72.1 from the FT line. And they are a solid rebounding team. Goodwin is a player that the LM have to be concerned about. Overall she averages 3.11 steals per game. That ranks 14th in the NATION. While ODU has been putting up solid offensive numbers lately, ball handling has been a weakness We want to limit the turnovers and that includes going up against one of the best in the nation at causing turnovers.
At the end of the day this should be a good match-up for ODU. But honestly, the way ODU has been playing...if we can limit our turnovers...we should win this one.
This is of course senior night. A night we say good-bye a great group...
Rhaven Kemp. Last season she was a player who was used sparingly until we hit 2/18 in a game against WKU. Kemp had a career high 9 points. But it was her energy and style of play that got the crowd's attention. She is an exciting player who plays a different style than her cousin, NBA superstar Shawn Kemp. This season she has 34 assists and 32 turnovers. Every point guard wants to finish with more assists than turnovers.
Annika Holopainen. She was a transfer from Portland where she averaged 9.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and was a dangerous three point shooter. Annika has often talked about the difference between West Coast and East Coast basketball. She has said that the East coast sytle is more physical and intense. So she had to go through a learning curve. Her moment of glory was Feb 22nd against La Tech where she scored 26 points coming off the bench including the game winning three that if you watch the replay you still wonder how she made that shot. This season she has stepped up her game since conference season started. Averaging 7.5 ppg, she is the number three scorer on the team in conference games. I think if she had stayed in Portland she might have been a 1,000 point scorer. But she has been an important part to this team on the field and her GPA is sky high. It's been a lot of fun watching her play. And for everything she has brought to this team I say "Kittos!" (thank you in Finnish)
Destinee Young. If you read through Destinee's bio in high school the last note is prom queen. Have you ever seen a prom queen do this much dirty work and be so good at it? She is a huge reason why ODU is one of the best rebounding team in the conference. Young averages 11.2 rpg...the next best is 9.3 (LeBlanc from La Tech) She has just seven games where she didn't have at least 10 rebounds. This season she has 307 rebounds. If you break it down just by class (seniors), Young is ranked 7.
1. Anne Donovan 504 (1982-83)
2. Nyree Roberts 384 (1997-98)
3. Tracy Claxton 382 (1984-85)
4. Inge Nissen 332 (1979-80)
5. Kelly Lyons 318 (1989-90)
6. Celeste Hill 311 (1993-94)
7. Destinee Young 307
8. Nancy Lieberman 294 (1979-80)
Obviusly the season isn't over yet. If you give her enough games she might climb over Inge Nissen to number four. Either way she has quietly had a spectular senor campaign. Watching Young develop as a fresman to one of the better rebounders in ODU history has been a joy. Her mid range shot is a thing of beauty. The prom queen came to ODU to get dirty...and we are so lucky she did. :-)
Jennie Simms. Wow. So much has been talked about writen about with Simms that I don't even know where to start or finish. Everyone knows she can score. This season she has worked on her free throws and her 78% is a career high. She has scored 36% of the team's overall points. She accounts for 30% of the team's total assists. Rebounding....averaging 8.0 rpg. Every major stat this season is a career high. This has been one of the finest seasons in a Lady Monarch uniform that you can have. Honestly I don't think there is anythoing on the floor that she can't do. I'm sad that Saturday might be the last time I see her play at the Ted.
I'm not 100% sure what will happen to Ije Ajemba. So much promise last year with a 20 rebound perfomance against Charlotte. Her senior year teamed up with Young could have been epic. Now...I just don't know what the future will hold for her.
The game on Saturday will be senior day. Seniors that I will truely miss. It's a lot of talent.
Today Southern Miss beat La Tech 72-63.
So the standings are...
WKU 15-2 (@ Rice)
Middle Tennessee 14-3 (@ FAU)
Southern Miss 13-5
La Tech 12-6
Charlotte 11-6 (vs UTEP)
ODU 11-6
That is good news for ODU. IF we win tomorrow, that puts at 12-6. We have tie breaker over La Tech. That keeps the dream of finishing top four still alive. Now if Charlotte wins, they finish with the same record over us...and I think they have the tie breaker over us. If they do they sneak into 4th place. If they lose and we win, we get 4th place...and first round bye.
It's still a long shot...but you have to keep the dream alive. (and it gives ODU even more to play for)
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WBB Game 28, Conf game 18, ODU 16-12 (11-6) vs UTSA 13-15 (9-8), Senior Day
