ELON, N.C. – An impressive game-high 24 points by Autumn Carter led the Elon women’s basketball team to an 83-38 victory over Pfeiffer in exhibition play today, Nov. 2, in Alumni Gym.
Carter, who was one of three Phoenix players to score in double figures, went 11-for-15 from the field and pulled down four boards in the 45-point victory.
“I thought we had a great combined effort offensively in terms of scoring,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “We had 22 assists, which is outstanding, and goes to show we were playing together today. We had to play a lot of people in multiple positions and it was exciting to see players flourishing in places that aren’t necessarily their natural positions.”
Zora Stephenson posted 19 points, including three three-pointers, and dished out seven assists. Kelsey Harris finished with 13 points after going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe, while also tallying six assists, six boards and four steals.
Newcomer Jenifer Rhodes was dominant on the boards, hauling down a total of 15, including nine on the defensive side of the ball.
Overall, the Phoenix shot 50 percent (35-of-70) from the field and finished with baskets from seven of the nine players that saw action. Elon scored 52 points in the paint and converted 28 Falcon turnovers into 39 points. Pfeiffer was held to a 31 percent shooting clip and was out rebounded by the maroon and gold, 45-29.
Leading by one in the first half, 8-7, a layup by Carter after a pass from Lauren Brown sparked a 13-point run that lasted six minutes and put the Phoenix up by 14, 21-7. Baskets by Stephenson, Lenaira Ruffin and Carter moved Elon to a 32-11 lead at the 6:38 mark. The maroon and gold took as much as a 22-point advantage before the half ended in favor of the Phoenix, 42-23.
Elon shot 54 percent in the second half and outscored Pfeiffer 41-15. Carter turned a Ruffin pass into a layup to put the Phoenix ahead by 30 with 12:13 remaining in the game. Elon scored the final 18 points of the game after the Falcons reached its scoring total off a free throw with just over seven minutes left. Carter and Stephenson combined for the last 10 maroon and gold points.
The Phoenix will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 8, at home in Alumni Gym against Winston-Salem State in a 5 p.m. tip.