Elon Women’s Basketball Suffers Loss at N.C. A&T

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (4-7) closed out the 2012 portion of its season after a 75-65 loss at nearby North Carolina A&T (7-5) today, Dec. 31, in the Corbett Sports Complex.

Elon shot 44 percent from the field after making 26-of-59 and shot 31 percent from beyond the arc. NC A&T also made 26 total field goals off its 54 attempts to finish with a 48 percent clip. The Aggies’ advantage came from the charity stripe where the team shot 70 percent opposed to 57 percent for the Phoenix.

“I thought we battled today but we just have to find a way to close it out,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “We’re looking forward to getting back home and into conference play again on Saturday. We’ve played a tough non-conference schedule and the games that we’ve played have definitely prepared us for the SoCon.”

Ali Ford led Elon with 13 points, playing only 30 minutes after receiving four fouls early in the second half. Both Kelsey Evans and Kelsey Harris finished with 11 points.

The Aggies won on the boards, 36-31, however, Elon’s Sam Coffer led all players with 10 rebounds.

The Phoenix trailed the Aggies for the majority of the first half with A&T taking a six-point advantage, 20-14, at the 10:30 mark. Elon went on a 9-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 23-22, off a layup by Shannen Cochraham, but the Aggies answered immediately with a three to go back on top.

Down by four, 36-32, with just over two minutes remaining in the half, a three by Zora Stephenson put the Phoenix back within one. A layup by Evans put Elon ahead, 37-36, with 56 seconds left in the first frame to give the Phoenix the lead at the break.

The Aggies opened the second half on a 12-4 run to force Smith to call a timeout with the maroon and gold trailing by seven, 48-41, before the first media timeout. Elon responded with a run of seven straight capped by a Ford layup to even the score at 48 at the 14:21 mark.

A&T managed to grab a six-point edge, 56-50, but Elon was able to chip away and pull within three, 65-62, after a three from Ford with just under four minutes remaining. That was the closest the Phoenix would come before the Aggies pulled away for the victory.

Elon returns home and back to conference play beginning with its first game of 2013. The Phoenix will host defending SoCon Tournament Champion Samford on Saturday, Jan. 5. Tip is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Alumni Gym.