WBB Game 14: ODU (9-4, 0-1) @ WKU (7-8, 1-0)
This Saturday the Monarchs will play the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Monarchs have never beaten the Hilltoppers in 8 tries while in Con USA. For those that don’t know, ODU coach McCray was an assistant coach during the 2007-08 season. They went 26-8 and went to the NCAA tournament that year. And of course, proving that it’s a small world, Wood Selig was WKU's Athletic Director at the time.
After Michelle Clark-Heard left WKU to be the head coach of Cincinnati, they hired Greg Collins to replace her Collins has spent the past six seasons on the WKU coaching staff, most recently as an associate head coach. He is trying to become the 6th head coach out of 11 to have a 20 win season in their first year. This season the Lady Toppers are 7-8 (1-0).
Vs # 5 Louisville L 80-102 Record: 13-0 RPI: 5
@ Oklahoma L 83-90 Record: 6-7 RPI: 97
Vs #13 Iowa L 67-104 Record 10-3 RPI: 12
@ Central Michigan Chippewas L 90-108 Record: 10-3 RPI: 32
VS Southern Illinois W 83-76 Record: 7-4 RPI: 99
2018 Vancouver Showcase
Vs #9 Oregon State L 60-74 Record: 10-2 RPI: 69
Vs ETSU W 82-68 Record: 2-14 RPI: 266
Vs Gonzaga L 55-76 Record: 14-1 RPI: 10
Vs Morgan State W 90-43 Record: 1-11 RPI: 328
@ AR Little Rock W 68-56 Record: 5-7 RPI: 177
Vs Bellarmine W 95-57 Not a Division One team
Vs Ball State L 83-86 Record: 5-7 RPI: 206
@ #2 Notre Dame L 53-94 Record: 13-1 RPI: 1
Vs Union (Tenn) W 77-65 Not a Division One team
Vs Charlotte W 76-58 Record: 8-5 (0-1) RPI: 101
Vs ODU Record: 9-4 (0-1) RPI: 52
WKU has a SOS of 21, which is probably why they have two non-division one teams on the schedule. They need some teams that will help provide a balance to what is a very tough schedule. RPI 118.
WKU starting Five
04 Dee Givens F 6’1” Rd Jr 18.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.9 spg, 46.8 FG%, 43.5 3P%, 89.5 FT%, 30.8 mpg
15 Raneem Elgedawy F 6’4” So 15.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.4 spg, 51.9 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 63.5 FT%, 25.4 mpg
05 Whitney Creech G 5’8” Jr 4.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 41.2 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 51.5 FT%, 23.9 mpg
30 Meral Abdel Gawad G 5’11” Fr 9.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 45.1 FG%, 32.5 3P%, 66.0 FT%, 23.5 mpg
22 Sherry Porter G 5’7” So 5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 36.3 FG%, 31.6 3P%, 60.7 FT%, 21.5 mpg
Top Bench
13 Jae’Lisa Allen F 6’2” Sr 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 41.2 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 11.9 mpg
03 Sidnee Bopp F 6’1” Rd Jr 2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 43.3 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 0.00 FT%, 15.6 mpg
11 Alexis Brewer G 5’9” Rd Jr 11.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 apg, 36.6 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 80.9 FT%, 29.3 mpg
This team could give the Monarchs some problem. It’s an experienced team with height. Givens is their player who does everything. She was the sixth man of the year last year She is a dangerous shooter. Abdelgaward and Elgedawy are both from Egypt and they are strong on the inside. Elgedawy averages 3.5 offensive rebounds per game, which places her second in Con USA. Abdelgaward shots above 50% when she shoots inside the 3 point arc. Brewer is a transfer from WKU and might start the game. Boop shots nothing but 3's when she comes off the bench.
They lead the conference in steals with 10 per game. And despite playing a very tough schedule they average 76.1 ppg, second highest in conference USA. This is a very good team.
Inside the Numbers
………….WKU………ODU
PPG…….76.1……..69.4
OPPG….77.1…….65.8
FG%.....44.1…….37.3
OFG%...48.2……36.9
3P%......35.7……28.7
O3P%....39.3……28.0
3PMG…..6.8……..6.4
FT%.....71.0…..61.6
FTMG…..15.2….15.8
RPG………33.2….43.8
ORPG……36.9….40.7
APG……13.4…..11.7
TPG……15.0……14.2
SPG……10.0……..8.4
BPG……2.4………3.0
Ast/TO ratio:
WKU: 0.9, ODU: 0.8
ODU’s performance against Marshall was very uncharacteristic of the season so far. They came out flat. This is something that they can’t do against WKU. The good news is that we get another shot against Marshall at home during the regular season. But this is our only game against WKU so it is important. I know it’s early, but I would much rather be 1-1 than 0-2 in this conference.
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