ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (1-0) opened its 2013-14 campaign with a 73-68 win over Winston-Salem State (0-1) tonight, Nov. 8, in Alumni Gym. Kelsey Harris matched her career high of 18 points, while Sam Coffer turned in a double-double performance with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
“We did a lot of good things out there,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “Overall, we shot the ball really well. Kelsey Harris did a really good job in terms of handling the pressure and playing the point guard position. Then Sam came up really good for us on the boards. Of course there are a lot of things we need to work on and we look forward to getting better.”
Elon went 21-of-48 from the field to shoot almost 44 percent, including 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Phoenix was sent to the line 33 times, converting 26 shots for a 78 percent clip. The Rams also shot over 40 percent (42.6) and went 8-for-22 from three-point land. The maroon and gold won the tight battle on the boards, 35-32.
Harris went 12-of-15 from the free throw line to set a new career-high for free throws made and dished out seven assists. Coffer’s 14 boards is also a new career high for the junior. Rookie Lauren Brown contributed 10 points after going 4-for-8 from the field.
In the first half, the Rams grabbed a 21-15 lead with 10:34 to play. The Phoenix would whittle away at WSSU’s advantage with layups by Shannen Cochraham and Coffer and close the gap to two, 21-19. Free throws by Harris would regain the lead for the maroon and gold with 7:35 left on the clock.
Back-to-back fast-break layups by Brown put Elon up by five, 26-21, with just over 5:33 remaining and capped 11 straight points for the Phoenix. With 22 ticks on the clock, a three by Zora Stephenson gave the maroon and gold its largest lead of the half, 34-24. The Phoenix went into the locker room up by eight, 34-26, after a 19-5 run that spanned just under 10 minutes.
Elon shot 39 percent from the field in the first half, with 14 points coming in the paint, and 86 percent from the charity stripe. The Phoenix held the Rams to a 28 percent shooting mark after the first 20.
WSSU came out of the break with the momentum and managed to take the lead, 45-44, at the 12:29 mark. A jumper by Lenaira Ruffin followed by a three by Stephenson put the Phoenix back up by six, 53-47, with under nine minutes to play.
The Rams were able to make shots from beyond the arc and pull within three several times but Elon continued to answer. WSSU became frustrated and committed 10 fouls in the final six minutes, sending Elon to the line. The Phoenix scored 13 of its last 15 points off free throws.
Freebies by Harris put the maroon and gold up by nine, 68-59, with just over a minute to play. The Rams made four baskets in the final minute but Elon was able to preserve a five-point victory.
The Phoenix will play its first road game of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, N.C. Tip is scheduled for 5 p.m.
beating D2 Winston Salem State by 5 is not good.