USC Women Face Top-Ranked Old Dominion

It’s hard to figure out what’s so special about the Field House at Old Dominion University, and why the Lady Monarchs are practically unbeatable at home. The place seems no different from any decent-sized, high school gym. Its bleachers seat only about 4,800. The gym’s entrance is adorned with framed, retired jerseys of former Old Dominion All-Americans Nancy Lieberman, Inge Nissen and Anne Donovan, but how intimidating are a few uniforms? Then, the fans start filing in. There were 3,500 for the Lady Monarchs’ game against Cal State Long Beach Monday night, but they produced noise enough for a crowd twice that size. A sellout is expected tonight when Cheryl Miller and the USC women’s team meet top-ranked Old Dominion, and that will make things even tougher for the Trojans, who already have lost to Georgia and Tennessee on this trip. “I think the crowd scares some opponents,” said Old Dominion forward Medina Dixon, who scored 27 points against the 49ers Monday night. “We have a big advantage playing at home. With all those screaming fans, it’s frustrating for other teams when they can’t even call their plays.” Even with Miller, who scored 31 points in Tuesday’s loss at Tennessee, the odds are against USC. Since Coach Marianne Stanley took over in 1977, Old Dominion has a 110-4 record at home. What’s more, Old Dominion has its best team since the Lady Monarchs won the national championship in 1980 with Lieberman, Nissen and Donovan. Old Dominion is led this season by Dixon, a 6-3 All-American who is averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds rebounds a game, and 6-2 forward Tracy Claxton, who averages 14 points and 10 rebounds.

USC still is playing without 6-5 center Cyndie Thomas, who has missed almost a month because of a knee injury.