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This Sunday the ODU Women's Basketball team will travel to Rice. First the good news. Nancy Mulkey is redshirting. You might be asking, who is Nancy Mulkey? Nancy Mulkey is currently the tallest player in division one women's basketball (active). She is 6'9" and she transfered from Oklahoma where she started every game. In 2016 she was rated as the #1 Center by ESPN. So this season, no worries. Next season, different story.

Rice Owls Schedule so far. 15-3 (5-1) RPI Rank: 111 SOS: 333
@ Grand Canyon Record: 7-10 RPI: 274 69-59 W
@ Northern Arizona Record: 3-15 RPI: 326 88-83 W
Vs Houston Baptist Record: 2-12 RPI: 324 67-45 W
@ Sam Houston St Record: 2-13 RPI: 331 79-50 W
Vs AR LIttle Rock Record: 11-8 RPI: 121 58-51 W
@ Kansas Record: 11-9 RPI: 125 65-73 L
@ Teaxs A&M Record: 16-5 RPI: 14 76-82 L
Vs Incarnate Word Record: 2-16 RPI: 297 60-43 W
Vs LA Monroe Record: 2-15 RPI: 333 63-47 W
@ TAMU Corpus Christi Record: 6-8 RPI: 266 67-56 W
@ Prairie View A&M Record: 4-12 RPI: 295 88-68 W
Vs Columbia Record: 6-12 RPI: 209 67-44 W
@ North Texas Record: 8-8 (2-5) RPI: 221 50-49 W
Vs UTSA Record: 2-15 (1-6) RPI: 312 83-52 W
@ FAU Record: 10-7 (4-2) RPI: 201 67-53 W
@ FIU Record: 6-13 (3-3) RPI: 273 58-68 L
@ Charlotte Record: 7-12 RPI: 171 62-55 W
Vs UTEP Record: 12-7 (3-3) RPI: 124 56-42 W
Vs ODU Record: 4-17 (2-5) RPI: 323

So far the Owls have played seven teams with an RPI of 290 or lower. (ODU will make number 8) Which explains their rather large SOS of 333. They are a perfect 7-0 at home though. ODU has yet to win on the road.

Owl's Starting Five
#22 Nicole Iademarco G/F 6'1" Rs Jr 14.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 41.8 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 65.9 FT%, 31.6 mpg
#23 Alexah Chrisman F/C 6'2" Fr 2.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 bpg, 44.7 FG%, 35.3 FT%, 20.4 mpg
#10 Wendy Knight G 5'9" Sr 11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 53.0 FG%, 44.0 3P%, 78.1 3P%, 33.5 mpg
#13 Erica Ogwumike G 5'9" Rs SO 17.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 48.6 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 77.2 FT%, 31.4 mpg
#21 Gabrille Stanton G 5'7" Jr 5.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 33.7 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 27.7 mpg
Top Bench
#30 Olivia Ogwumike F 5'11" Rs Jr 11.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 43.2 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 50.0 Ft%, 27.3 mpg

Yes Olivia and Erica are sisters who both transfered and sat out from Pepperdine. They have two sisters who played for Stanford. Nneka and Chiney. Nneka Ogwumike was the number one draft pick in the WNBA (LA Sparks) in 2012 and Chiney was drafted number one by the Connecticut Sun in 2014. They aren't quite as good as their sisters but they are very talented. And they are used to playing with each other. It's a huge advantage when they are on the court together. They can anticipate each other's movements because they have played together for years.

Big thing to remember about this team. Yes they will pound the inside with their bigs. But every player on their roster will shot the three ball. Over 40% of the team's total shots have been for three. They average 8.8 threes a game. They will spread the offensive around. That is what makes playing this team so tough. You have to defend both the outside and guard the inside. And next year they get their 6'9" player.......well...they could be very good.

Although I emphasis soft schedule, Rice's 56.7 defensive points per game ranks 26th in the nation. Points won't come easy against this team.

Inside the numbers....
...............Rice....ODU
PPG........67.9......54.9
OPPG.....56.7.......64.9
FG%.......44.5.......37.3
OFG%....37.2........41.5
3P%.......38.0.......29.5
3PMPG...8.8........5.8
FT%........71.9......63.3
FTMPG....12.1......10.0
RPG.........37.6......34.0
OpRPG.....32.2......34.8
APG.........13.8.......11.0
TPG..........15.5.......15.8
SPG..........6.8.........6.0
BPG.........3.0..........2.1
Ast/TO ratio: Rice 0.9, ODU: 0.7

So I don't know why Loftus didn't make the trip, but ODU is trying to stay positive with eight players. We have to avoid the mental mistakes and concentrate on our defense. From the broadcast on Friday, Doug made plenty of reference how Timmons seems to playing through an injuried hamstring. Truth is, we have no real back up PG. So all the pressure is on Timmons right now. Victoria Morris is tied for sixth in the nation in three point attempts. Honestly we need as much offense from her as we can. So keep shooting. It would be great for ODU to win, but we haven't won on the road against a team that hasn't lost at home. In other words, another tough game.
------

Let's check in on former ODU player Becca Allison.
Becca is still at Houston Baptist University. For two years she was the graduate assistant where she got her master's in education. Now she is an assistant coach there. She has been recruiting both in the US and internationally as well. And she has received a lot of credit for the women's basketball team having outstanding GPAs. It's exciting to see a former player advance her career in basketball. I'll be curious if she moves on. Maybe UNCW? Knowing people in this business does seem to help. ODU assistant coach Brittany Young and Nikki were both under Dawn Staley at the same time at South Carolina.
http://www.hbuhuskies.com/coaches.aspx?r...ath=wbball

(01-27-2018 04:47 PM)Aviewfromthestands2 Wrote:  This Sunday the ODU Women's Basketball team will travel to Rice. First the good news. Nancy Mulkey is redshirting. You might be asking, who is Nancy Mulkey? Nancy Mulkey is currently the tallest player in division one women's basketball (active). She is 6'9" and she transfered from Oklahoma where she started every game. In 2016 she was rated as the #1 Center by ESPN. So this season, no worries. Next season, different story.

Rice Owls Schedule so far. 15-3 (5-1) RPI Rank: 111 SOS: 333
@ Grand Canyon Record: 7-10 RPI: 274 69-59 W
@ Northern Arizona Record: 3-15 RPI: 326 88-83 W
Vs Houston Baptist Record: 2-12 RPI: 324 67-45 W
@ Sam Houston St Record: 2-13 RPI: 331 79-50 W
Vs AR LIttle Rock Record: 11-8 RPI: 121 58-51 W
@ Kansas Record: 11-9 RPI: 125 65-73 L
@ Teaxs A&M Record: 16-5 RPI: 14 76-82 L
Vs Incarnate Word Record: 2-16 RPI: 297 60-43 W
Vs LA Monroe Record: 2-15 RPI: 333 63-47 W
@ TAMU Corpus Christi Record: 6-8 RPI: 266 67-56 W
@ Prairie View A&M Record: 4-12 RPI: 295 88-68 W
Vs Columbia Record: 6-12 RPI: 209 67-44 W
@ North Texas Record: 8-8 (2-5) RPI: 221 50-49 W
Vs UTSA Record: 2-15 (1-6) RPI: 312 83-52 W
@ FAU Record: 10-7 (4-2) RPI: 201 67-53 W
@ FIU Record: 6-13 (3-3) RPI: 273 58-68 L
@ Charlotte Record: 7-12 RPI: 171 62-55 W
Vs UTEP Record: 12-7 (3-3) RPI: 124 56-42 W
Vs ODU Record: 4-17 (2-5) RPI: 323

So far the Owls have played seven teams with an RPI of 290 or lower. (ODU will make number 8) Which explains their rather large SOS of 333. They are a perfect 7-0 at home though. ODU has yet to win on the road.

Owl's Starting Five
#22 Nicole Iademarco G/F 6'1" Rs Jr 14.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 41.8 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 65.9 FT%, 31.6 mpg
#23 Alexah Chrisman F/C 6'2" Fr 2.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 bpg, 44.7 FG%, 35.3 FT%, 20.4 mpg
#10 Wendy Knight G 5'9" Sr 11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 53.0 FG%, 44.0 3P%, 78.1 3P%, 33.5 mpg
#13 Erica Ogwumike G 5'9" Rs SO 17.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 48.6 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 77.2 FT%, 31.4 mpg
#21 Gabrille Stanton G 5'7" Jr 5.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 33.7 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 27.7 mpg
Top Bench
#30 Olivia Ogwumike F 5'11" Rs Jr 11.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 43.2 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 50.0 Ft%, 27.3 mpg

Yes Olivia and Erica are sisters who both transfered and sat out from Pepperdine. They have two sisters who played for Stanford. Nneka and Chiney. Nneka Ogwumike was the number one draft pick in the WNBA (LA Sparks) in 2012 and Chiney was drafted number one by the Connecticut Sun in 2014. They aren't quite as good as their sisters but they are very talented. And they are used to playing with each other. It's a huge advantage when they are on the court together. They can anticipate each other's movements because they have played together for years.

Big thing to remember about this team. Yes they will pound the inside with their bigs. But every player on their roster will shot the three ball. Over 40% of the team's total shots have been for three. They average 8.8 threes a game. They will spread the offensive around. That is what makes playing this team so tough. You have to defend both the outside and guard the inside. And next year they get their 6'9" player.......well...they could be very good.

Although I emphasis soft schedule, Rice's 56.7 defensive points per game ranks 26th in the nation. Points won't come easy against this team.

Inside the numbers....
...............Rice....ODU
PPG........67.9......54.9
OPPG.....56.7.......64.9
FG%.......44.5.......37.3
OFG%....37.2........41.5
3P%.......38.0.......29.5
3PMPG...8.8........5.8
FT%........71.9......63.3
FTMPG....12.1......10.0
RPG.........37.6......34.0
OpRPG.....32.2......34.8
APG.........13.8.......11.0
TPG..........15.5.......15.8
SPG..........6.8.........6.0
BPG.........3.0..........2.1
Ast/TO ratio: Rice 0.9, ODU: 0.7

So I don't know why Loftus didn't make the trip, but ODU is trying to stay positive with eight players. We have to avoid the mental mistakes and concentrate on our defense. From the broadcast on Friday, Doug made plenty of reference how Timmons seems to playing through an injuried hamstring. Truth is, we have no real back up PG. So all the pressure is on Timmons right now. Victoria Morris is tied for sixth in the nation in three point attempts. Honestly we need as much offense from her as we can. So keep shooting. It would be great for ODU to win, but we haven't won on the road against a team that hasn't lost at home. In other words, another tough game.
------

Let's check in on former ODU player Becca Allison.
Becca is still at Houston Baptist University. For two years she was the graduate assistant where she got her master's in education. Now she is an assistant coach there. She has been recruiting both in the US and internationally as well. And she has received a lot of credit for the women's basketball team having outstanding GPAs. It's exciting to see a former player advance her career in basketball. I'll be curious if she moves on. Maybe UNCW? Knowing people in this business does seem to help. ODU assistant coach Brittany Young and Nikki were both under Dawn Staley at the same time at South Carolina.
http://www.hbuhuskies.com/coaches.aspx?r...ath=wbball

I heard Bernadeco stayed behind for foot treatment and rest and loftus suffered concussion earlier in week

I imagine Bernadeco might be ready for Friday

After first quarter, scored tied up at 11. I didn't mention this game is on ESPN 3.

http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3260732/o...basketball

Halftime. ODU 23. Rice 16. Taylor Edwards with 8 points, Victoria Morris with 11 points.

End of 3rd, ODU 36. Rice 31. Timmons with 4 fouls. Edwards, Carter, Brew, and Morris with 3 each.

Good effort, but we just don’t have the horses to finish games this year.

Final score. Rice 53. ODU 45. The game was a lot closer than the final score. ODU lead for most of the fourth quarter, but then went on a 10-0 run in the closing minutes. 13 points each for Morris and Timmons. You could see that the ODU bench really wanted this one. It's tough with 8 players. It is not just about the game, but think about practice. You can't do 5 on 5, so 4 on 4.

Next game, Monarchs return home for Education Game number two.