Elon Women’s Basketball Welcomes VCU Rams for Home Opener

ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (0-1) returns to Alumni Gym on Monday, Nov. 12, for its 2012-13 home opener against the Rams of VCU (0-0). Tip is set for 7 p.m. and admission is $5.

Monday, Nov. 12
Site: Elon, N.C.
Arena: Alumni Gym
Series: Elon leads, 1-0
Radio: WSOE 98.3 FM – Greg Brzozowski and Matt Curry will have the call

Scouting the Rams
Monday’s game marks the first of the season for the Rams and its new coaching staff. Marlene Stollings was named the VCU head coach in June after one year at Winthrop where she led the Eagles to an 18-13 record. The Rams lost a lot from last season due to roster turnover, while it’s leading returning scorer, junior Robyn Parks, averaged 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season. The team also welcomes five freshmen to replace members of a squad that went 19-15 in 2011-12.

The Series
VCU and Elon have only met once before. The two teams played in March of 1981 with Elon coming away with a 95-62 victory.

Last Time Out
Elon dropped its season opener at South Carolina on Friday by a final of 77-44. The Phoenix shot 29 percent from the field on 16-of-54 field goal attempts, while the Gamecocks knocked down 31-of-70 shots for a 44-percent clip. The maroon and gold was led by 10 points from Shon Redmond, followed by eight points from both Kelsey Evans and Ali Ford. Kelsey Harris led Elon on the glass after pulling down nine boards.

Veterans Get in Free
In honor of Veteran’s Day the previous day, all active and retired military members will get in free to Elon’s game on Nov. 12 with a military ID. Thank you to all the men and women who protect our freedoms at home and abroad.

Elon in Home Openers
Elon has won its last four home openers by a combined score of 309-248, averaging its wins by a differential of 15.25 points. The last time Elon fell in its home opener was in 2007 when Penn defeated the Phoenix by two, 56-54.

Beyond the Arc
The Phoenix kept the Gamecocks from making any three-pointers in its 14 attempts on Friday. Elon’s Ali Ford and Zora Stephenson drained the only two threes of the game.

Freebies
Elon went 10-for-13 from the charity stripe at South Carolina, shooting almost 77 percent. Kelsey Evans was perfect in her four trips to the line, while the Gamecocks shot 50 percent after going 15-for-30.

Coat Drive
Elon’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee is currently collecting new or gently used coats for Allied Churches of Alamance County. SAAC will collect coats of all sizes, as well as other cold-weather apparel such as hats, gloves and scarves, at all home basketball games through Dec. 13. Anyone that brings a coat to the women’s game on Thursday, Dec. 13, will get in for free.

Looking Ahead
After it’s home opener, Elon continues its four-game home stand with a match up against UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Nov. 18. Tip is set for 7 p.m.