SALEM, Va. --- For the fourth consecutive year, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and the USA South Athletic Conference will be bringing extra exciting basketball to the region.  The ODAC/USA South Senior Basketball Challenge is set for this Sunday, March 22, on the campus of Hampden-Sydney College.  The women's contest will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with the men's match-up following at 3:00 p.m.  Admission to the game is free.

 

Inaugurated in 2006, the ODAC/USA South Senior Basketball Challenge provides graduating seniors from each of the conferences' schools an opportunity in the collegiate forum one final time.  USA South member Averett University hosted the first contest two years ago while ODAC member Roanoke College welcomed the two games to its campus in 2007.  N.C. Wesleyan College served as the host institution last season. 

The event also features the theme “Sportsmanship Counts.”  The games are intended to place the importance of sportsmanship and the values of fair play.

The conferences split last season's games at N.C. Wesleyan with the ODAC earning the victory in the men's tilt, 112-105, and the USA South claiming the women's result, 82-74.  The outcome was the same in 2007 at Roanoke College, and the ODAC swept both matchups in the 2006 event at Averett.

 

Playing on the women's side for Roanoke will be seniors Marcy Conner, Virginia Anne Hagood and Erin Jenkins. For the men's side will be Drew Gaeng and Curtis Peery.

 

Conner, a Roanoke native, averaged 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 points per game along with 10 blocked shots. Hagood, an Eastern Montgomery product, had the best year of her career as she averaged 6.1 points and four rebounds per game. She shot 46.7% from three-point range and had 41 assists. Jenkins, who was noted as the team's best defender over the last two seasons, finished her career ranked among the top-10 all-time in three-pointers. She also finished her career with 55 blocked shots, 152 assists, 292 rebounds and 556 points in a utility role.

 

Gaeng, a transfer from Mt. St. Mary's (MD), enjoyed his most successful season in his three-year career as a Maroon. His numbers this season exceeded the previous two years combined in every statistical category and led the team in three-pointers and assists. Peery, a local product out of Salem, led the team in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) while leading the ODAC in free-throw shooting. He was First-Team All-ODAC and was a three-time all-conference selection. He finished his career 12^th all-time in career scoring and 10^th in career free-throws made.

Below you will find full men's and women's rosters for both conferences.  For more information, please contact the ODAC office at 540-387-9073, or the USA South office at 910-630-7326.  You can also visit the homes of both conferences on the Internet at www.odaconline.com and www.usasouth.net.

 

 

Head Coach: Tom Palombo (Guilford)

Assistant Coaches: Page Moir (RC), Clay Nunley (RAND)

 

 

Head Coach: Susan Dunagan (Roanoke)