Elon Looks to “White Out” Wofford on Saturday

ELON, N.C. – Coming off two key road wins, the Elon women’s basketball team (14-13, 10-8) returns to Alumni Gym tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 25, for a Southern Conference tilt with the Wofford Terriers. Tip is set for 2 p.m. in Alumni Gym. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free Elon basketball t-shirt as the Phoenix looks to “White Out” Alumni Gym.

THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 19th all-time meeting between the Phoenix and Terriers. Elon leads the series, 10-8 and has won the last four meetings. The Phoenix topped the Terriers, 74-68, earlier this season on Dec. 19 in Spartanburg, S.C., behind a game-high 27 points from Ali Ford. Ford tied a career-high mark with seven triples in the win. Elon has a 5-3 all-time mark at home against Wofford.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following today’s game, Elon closes out the regular season at home on Monday night, Feb. 27, against Western Carolina. The team will celebrate Senior Night and the careers of Aiesha Harper, Erica Keto, Jermile’ Batten and Kallie Hovatter.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aiesha Harper was named the SoCon Player of the Week on Tuesday, Elon’s second player of the week honor in February. Harper helped lead the Phoenix to a pair of wins on the road last week at Georgia Southern and College of Charleston. Harper posted a career-high 21 points in Elon’s 83-53 win at Georgia Southern. She also dished out four assists while picking up four steals and finishing 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. The Pottstown, Pa., native recorded a game-high 16 points Monday night in a 63-50 win over the Cougars. Harper also grabbed six rebounds, went 6-of-7 from the line and went 2-of-2 from long range.

ROAD TO ASHEVILLE: The 2012 Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for March 2-5 in Asheville, N.C. Kimmel Arena will play host to the first round and quarterfinal games on March 2-3 before the tournament shifts to the Asheville Civic Center for the semifinals and championship on March 4-5. Heading into Saturday’s game, Elon sits in fifth place in the SoCon standings.

30-POINT VICTORY: Elon’s 83-53 win over Georgia Southern on Feb. 18 marks the program’s largest margin of victory over a Southern Conference team since joining the league in 2003-04. Previously, Elon handed Western Carolina a 27-point defeat on Jan. 27, 2011 in Cullowhee along with a 25-point win against Samford earlier this season on Dec. 5.

MOVING ON UP: With six points at College of Charleston on Monday, Ali Ford now sits at 1,460 career points, putting her ahead of Elon Hall of Famer Donna Trollinger for fourth in program history. Ford is 13 points away from passing Lou Williamson for third in school history. Ford became Elon’s all-time three-point leader on Jan. 28 and the Southern Conference’s all-time leader from beyond the arc on Dec. 29.

CAREER NIGHT: Aiesha Harper scored a career-high 21 points at Georgia Southern on Feb. 18. Harper’s previous career high came last season on Feb. 19 against Samford when she scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field.

REACHING 900: With eight points at College of Charleston on Feb. 20, Kelsey Evans now sits at 906 career points. Evans has also grabbed 697 career rebounds (seventh all time) and blocked 160 shots (third all time) in her career.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Elon has held its opponent to 50 or fewer points in six of its victories this season. The Phoenix accomplished that feat four times all of last season.

HOME COOKING: Elon is 8-3 at home this season and has won four of its last five games in Alumni Gym. The Phoenix is outscoring opponents by nearly eight points per game at home this season. Over the last two seasons, Elon has won 19 games inside Alumni Gym.