NORFOLK, Va. — The Old Dominion women’s basketball team struggled to find its rhythm in Monday night’s season opener, shooting just 28.6 percent from the floor in a 58–52 loss to UMass at Chartway Arena.

The Monarchs (0–1) missed 50 of their 70 field goal attempts, including 12 of their first 15 layups, in the Mid-American Conference/Sun Belt Challenge matchup. Despite the offensive woes, ODU clawed back from an 18-point deficit in the second half before the Minutewomen (1–0) held firm down the stretch.

“They looked like a well-oiled machine,” head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said. “And we did not.”

Both teams entered the game returning four of their top scorers and projected to finish near the top of their respective conferences. UMass benefited from an exhibition game last week, while

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