ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (5-7, 2-1 SoCon) snapped a three-game losing skid with an impressive 65-41 win over reigning Southern Conference champion Samford (5-7, 2-1 SoCon) today, Jan. 5, in Alumni Gym. Elon saw three players reach double figures, including a season-high 15 points from Kelsey Harris.
“I’m very excited about today’s game,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “I’m glad we got the win and I feel like everyone played well. Coming off a three-game slide, I think we were focused and we knew that the games we have played prior to conference play would prepare us for this. We look forward to taking on Chattanooga on Monday.”
Elon held the lead through the entire game as the Phoenix shot 48 percent from the field, including 38 percent from beyond the arc, and held Samford to a 34 percent clip. The Phoenix forced a season-high 26 turnovers and also won the rebounding battle, 34-24.
Kelsey Evans fell just short of the double-double with 12 points and a game-high nine boards, while Ali Ford finished with 11 points.
With Elon leading 11-9 with 10:52 left in the first half, a three by Zora Stephenson sparked a 10-0 run for the Phoenix to take its first significant lead of the game. The maroon and gold closed the first frame on a combined 10-point run by Evans and Harris to take a 36-19 advantage at the break.
Elon kept its foot on the gas at the beginning of the second half with a 9-0 run within the first six minutes to move ahead by 26, 45-19. The Phoenix went up by as much as 32 with 10:37 left in the game before winning by the 24-point advantage.
The Phoenix saw action from 12 players and put nine players in the scoring column.
Elon continues its stretch of three games in five days when it hosts Chattanooga on Monday, Jan. 7. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.