Women’s Basketball Drops Conference Opener at App State

Next Game: at James Madison 12/31/2022 | 2:00 P.M. ESPN+ ODU SPORTS RADIO NETWORK Dec. 31 (Sat) / 2:00 P.M. at James

Madison History BOONE, N.C. – Makayla Dickens scored a season-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough as Old Dominion women's basketball lost its first Sun Belt

conference game of the season 81-55 on Thursday night at Appalachian State."We did not shoot the ball well," head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said after the game. "I think we

settled too many times and then we also broke down defensively a lot. Too many straight line drives right down the heart of our defense. They checked our lateral quickness, and our

heart compass was not there the way that it should be tonight."   Dickens went 9-for-20 from the field, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, and made 3-of-5 free

throws. The grad transfer from Boston College also grabbed three rebounds and added three assists and one steal to her totals. Kaye Clark scored 10 points and flirted with a

double-double as she led the Monarchs (8-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) on the glass with eight boards. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native finished the night with one assist, one block and a pair

of steals. Brenda Fontana contributed a season-high eight points with six rebounds, and Jordan McLaughlin chipped in seven points.   "What we got from Makayla Dickens

tonight is what we expect from her all the time," continued Milton-Jones. "She is just that much of an offensive firepower. Brenda Fontana came in and played great minutes in

absence of Amari Young and I hope that this is something that she can build off of. She got a lot of courage going into our next game, and now her confidence will be at an all-time

high."As a team, ODU shot 21-for-62 (.339) from the field, 5-for-22 (.227) from long range, and 8-for-12 (.667) at the charity stripe. The Monarchs scored more second-chance points

(16-8), but the Mountaineers (5-7, 1-0 SBC) led every other category.   ODU was playing without its top scorer and rebounder in Young, who did not make the trip due to

personal reasons.   "Her absence is huge for us," added Milton-Jones. "She allows us to do different things defensively, she rebounds the ball well for us and we go to

her offensively. So when you're missing a player like that, that is a huge hole to fill in a short period of time."   In the first quarter, a jumper from McLaughlin and

a 1-for-2 effort at the line by Dickens gave ODU its first lead at 3-2. The hosts responded with back-to-back scores to wrestle back control at 6-3. The Monarchs kept it close as