Preview: Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Old Dominion Lady Monarchs

NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — The Old Dominion Lady Monarchs look to steady themselves in Sun Belt Conference play when they host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Wednesday night at the Constant Convocation Center.

Old Dominion (12-9) has dropped two straight, including a 65-61 road loss at Texas State on Saturday. The Lady Monarchs have been inconsistent at home this season, but will be favored against a Warhawks squad that has lost three of its last four.

Louisiana-Monroe (8-11) is coming off a narrow 82-75 home loss to Marshall on Friday. The Warhawks have struggled to find consistency, alternating wins and losses over their past eight games.

A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top interior players. Louisiana-Monroe will rely on forward Marcavia Shavers, who is coming off a dominant 18-point, 13-rebound performance against Marshall. Shavers has recorded four double-doubles in her last nine games, including a 17-point, 17-rebound effort in a win over South Alabama on Jan. 1.

She will be countered by Old Dominion’s Riley Stack, a versatile forward who leads the team in scoring and provides a rim-protecting presence. Stack is averaging 12.3 points per game and is coming off a 16-point, six-rebound, four-block performance in the loss to Texas State. Her ability to stretch the floor and defend the paint will be crucial for the Lady Monarchs.

For ULM, support for Shavers has come from Asia Barclay, who added 17 points and nine rebounds against Marshall, and guard Nakiyah Mays-Prince, who leads the team in assists. Old Dominion will look for backcourt production from En’Dya Buford, who averages 11.3 points and 4.3 assists per game, and Simone Cunningham.

The game marks the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season. Following this contest, Old Dominion will host Southern Mississippi on Saturday, while Louisiana-Monroe travels to face Appalachian State.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday in Norfolk.