Tuesday, December 1, 2015

What's on tap (Wednesday, Dec. 2)


Loyola (Md., 2-4) at Old Dominion (1-6), 11 a.m.

Another packed house is expected at the Constant Center for ODU''s fifth annual "Education Day" contest featuring more than 7,000 elementary school students from virtually all of Norfolk's public schools. Last year's game drew the arena's first-ever sellout for women's basketball (8,472), and ODU is actually expecting 200 additional kids for this year's matchup.

As for the game, the Lady Monarchs will continue to be without leading scorer Jennie Simms (18.3 ppg) and starting center Ije Ajemba, both of whom have been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. Both players also missed the third of ODU's three games at the Paradise Jam Saturday, a 71-39 loss to South Dakota State. In addition to scoring, Simms also leads the Lady Monarchs in rebounds per game, assists and steals. She is also a team captain.

Loyola will be led by Bri Betz-White, the Greyhounds' leading scorer (15.8 ppg) and the younger sister of former ODU standout - and fan favorite at Education Day - Ashley Betz-White...Old Dominion has lost five straight since a 71-57 victory over Wagner on Nov. 15...This will be Loyola's third game against a Virginia school in the last 12 days. The Greyhounds knocked off Norfolk State on Nov. 21 and fell by a point to William and Mary on Nov. 23. The Greyhounds' last appearance at the Constant Center was also Wendy Larry's last game as Old Dominion's head coach. Loyola prevailed 67-65 in the first round of the WNIT on March 16, 2011.

Davidson (4-2) at Radford (2-2), 11:30 a.m.

The Highlanders are staging an "Education Day" matinee for the first time and will be looking to win their l1th straight at home. Radford tuned up for this contest by tearing through Division II Lees-McRae 84-39. Davidson has won three straight.

UNC Wilmington (2-2) at VCU (4-1), 7 p.m.

VCU ranks 10th in Division I in scoring defense (49.8 ppg) and 35th out of 344 schools in steals per game (11.2). The Seahawks have been pretty disruptive, too (9.8 steals per game, 21.8 turnovers forced) so this one could be fairly low-scoring. VCU won 59-53 when these teams met at UNCW last season.

Georgetown (4-1) at George Mason (3-5), 7 p.m.

The Patriots went 2-3 on their five-game, 11-day road trip (Utah, Alaska, Las Vegas) and will play playing at home for just the second time this season and first since Nov. 17. The Hoyas are coming off a two-game sweep of the TD Bank Classic tournament at the University of Vermont and have already matched their win total for the entire 2014-15 season (4-27).

Iowa (6-1) at Virginia (5-2), 7 p.m.

Game is part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hawkeyes are ranked 24th in the USA Today coaches poll. Virginia won five in a row before dropping its final two games at the Paradise Jam.

Liberty (2-4) at Gardner-Webb (4-1), 7 p.m.

Kickoff for both teams of the Big South's 20-game conference slate. The Lady Flames have won six straight league openers and 15 of the last 16. Liberty enters on a four-game losing streak, albeit against stiff competition (N.C. State, JMU, Ohio State, California).

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