ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team will play its lone exhibition game prior to the 2012-13 season by hosting Belmont Abbey on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for youth 12 and under.
After posting a 16-14 record in her first season with the Phoenix, the most wins for a first-year head coach at Elon, Charlotte Smith returns 10 players, including four starters, from last year’s team – Sam Coffer, Kelsey Evans, Ali Ford and Kelsey Harris.
Evans and Ford were named to the Southern Conference’s Preseason All-Conference team last week by the league’s coaches. This was the second straight year that Evans has received preseason honors and the third straight season for Ford.
The 2012-13 squad is a mix of old and new with five seniors and four freshmen. Arayeal Brandner, Lei Lei Hairston and Shon Redmond join Evans and Ford in their final season with the Phoenix, while Elon welcomes Autumn Carter, Jessica Farmer, Lauren Hudson and Nicole Razor.
The Crusaders of Belmont-Abbey are coached by Elon grad Susan Yow ’76, who played for the Fightin’ Christians from 1972-75. Yow has her name etched in several categories in the record book and is one of three players at Elon to earn All-America honors. The 1993 Elon Sports Hall of Fame Inductee for both women’s basketball and volleyball, played for her sister, Kay Yow, while at Elon. Yow has led the Crusaders to three straight winning seasons, including consecutive 19-10 seasons. This is the 10th overall meeting between the two programs with Belmont Abbey owning the 6-3 advantage. The two teams have not played one another since 1996.
The Phoenix begins its regular season on Friday, Nov. 9, at SEC opponent South Carolina. The maroon and gold will play its home opener against VCU on Monday, Nov. 12, in a 7 p.m. tip.