WBB Game 2: ODU (1-0) @ Auburn (1-0)
This Thursday the ODU Monarchs will play the Auburn University Tigers inside Auburn Arena. Last season the Tigers finished 22-10 overall, with a 9-7 record. They were tied for 6th place overall in the SEC with Georgia. They lost in the first round to BYU in the NCAA tournament. In this year's preseason Southeastern Conference (SEC) poll, Auburn was picked to finish 8th overall. They have two players who were selected on the second team preseason All-SEC coaches poll.
Auburn Arena opened in the 2010-2011 season. So it's a modern day basketball venue that seats up to 9,121 people. It cost $86 million to make, the furthest seat in the Arena is 43 feet away from the court. The difference between pricing for men's and women's basketball games. Courtside season tickets for the men's basketball game cost $4,225, (includes food and parking) Courtside for the women's games cost $150.
The last time ODU played Auburn was back in 2013-14 season, when we lost in the second round of the WNIT on the road. ODU is 2-4 all time against the Tigers.
Tigers season so Far. Overall Record: 1-0, RPI: 187, SOS: 225
Vs Wofford W 84-82 Record: 0-2 RPI: 224
Vs ODU Record: 1-0 RPI: 236
The season is so young, RPI ranking isn't really worth getting excited over. ODU's ranking will change.
Auburn Starting Five
20 Thompson, Unique F 6'3" Jr 25.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 69.2 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 77.8 FT%, 30.0 mpg
0 Alexander, Daisa G 5'8" Sr 22.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 64.3 FT%, 33.0 mpg
5 Moore, Brooke G 5'7" So 15.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 37.5 FG%, 14.3 3P%, 1.000 FT%, 36.0 mpg
3 Hughes, Annie G 5'9" Fr 10.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 3.0 SPG, 80.0 FG%, 1.000 3P%, 1.000 FT%, 30.0 mpg
10 White, Kiyae' F 6'2" Rd So 2.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 25.0 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 0.000 FT%, 17.0 mpg
Top Bench
24 Howard, Erin F/G 6'1" So 0.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.00 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 0.00 FT%, 19.0 mpg
5 Jackson, Abigayle F 6'3" Jr 5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 40.0 FG%, 0.00 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 7.0 mpg
12 Perry, Maliya G/F 6'0" Fr 5.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 66.7 FG%, 1.000 3P%, 0.00 FT%, 11.0 mpg
Now as you can probably guess from the stats, Unique Thompson and Daisa Alexander were the preseason second All-SEC team. Last season Thompson averaged 12.2 ppg and 10.3 rpg. Alexander averaged 12.6 ppg and 2.3 spg. Those two alone are a nice 1-2 punch for Auburn. They have added a freshman PG in Annie Hughes who was 2019 Miss Alabama Basketball and ranked 28th nationally by ESPN. Brooke Moore was a five star ranked prospect last year. This team is loaded with talent and they will have height with experience.
It's a very impressive offensive minded team that coach Terri Williams-Flournay has put together in 8th season as head coach. Last season they averaged 71.6 ppg and they rarely turned over the ball. (417 turnovers---best in program history) The team looks to trap with their spee on defense. As a player she played for Penn State and her hometown as everyone knows, Hampton, VA. Boo Williams is her brother. On Coach Flo's staff is Phoebus High School grad La'Keisha Frett Meredith who still holds the Virginia high school all time record for points (3,290). She had a great college career at Georgia, played in the WNBA, and is in her first year of coaching.
This is a really good offensive team. I know it's early, but I think it might be the best offensive team that we play all year. They are going to test our defense. If we give up an inch, they will find it. They height at key positions. They have SEC athletes and will have the home court advantage.
Inside the Stats
.......................AUB......ODU
PPG................84........59
OPPG.............82........44
FG%...............46.2......32.8
OFG%............40.6......29.8
3P%...............25.0......07.7
O3P%............43.3......11.8
3PMG.............4.0........1.0
3PAMG...........13.0......2.0
FT%................66.7.....57.1
FTMG..............20.0.....8.0
RPG................47.0......47.0
ORPG.............34.0......44.0
APG................15.0......6.0
TPG................14.0......12.0
SPG................12.0......11.0
BPG................2.0........6.0
Ast/TO ratio......1.1........0.5
For ODU to win, it starts with defense. We will need the three ball, and our rebounding will need to be on. This is a game that will show us what we are made of early on in the season.
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