On January 11th, 2025, at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va., the Monarchs take down The Herd by 80 - 75. The Arena was filled with great support, and kids and adults showed up with their superhero capes for Youth Day.

In the Old Dominion and Marshall women's basketball game, the Monarchs and The Herd traded baskets with each other. Both teams could answer the other team’s three-point shot or layup. In the first quarter, The Herd came out ready to crush the Lady Monarchs. The Monarchs were able to find their way on the scoreboard first. 

Then Aislynn Hayes made a three-pointer that CC Mays assisted. Then Meredith Maier made another three-pointer, putting Marshall ahead by four points, but Kelsey Thompson got the ball in her hand.

Kelsey Thompson came down the court and answered Meredith's three-pointer. Kelsey made a three-pointer with an assist from Simone Cunningham. As the first quarter ended, Maddie Kellione was at the free-throw line, making both free-throw shots, which decreased the Monarchs' lead to five points.

The first layup at the nine-minute and 21-second mark in the second quarter was by Blessing King. Blessing King decreased the Monarchs' lead to three points. Mariah Clayton answered King’s layup with eight minutes in the second quarter. 

The scoring pace began to increase, and Maier scored three points. Camryn Hill came down the court and answered Maier's three with a corner three-pointer assisted by En'Dya Buford. At the two-minute mark, King’s layup tied the match at 38. After King's layup, ODU went on a 6-0 run to end the second quarter.

Aislynn scored within 18 seconds in the third quarter, and Cunningham went to the Monarch's side and scored two points, assisted by En'Dya Buford. En'Dya Buford assisted Kelsey Thompson with a three-pointer jumper. Maddie answered her three-pointer with an assist from CC Mays. 

Into the 4th quarter, both teams battled on the boards, on the floor for loose balls, and in the air. The bad passes led to steals, and the long passes led to turnovers. Kelsey Thompson was named Player of the Game with 20 points, two assists, and three rebounds. Listen to the full play-by-play here. 

The Lady Monarchs hold a conference record of 4-1. Their overall record is 12-5. The Lady Monarchs face off against App State for another Sun Belt Conference game at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 15th at 6:30 pm.