ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (2-4) continues its road swing with a test at in-state opponent NC State (9-1) on Sunday, Dec. 8, in Reynolds Coliseum at 2 p.m.
Elon at NC State
Date: Sunday, Dec. 8
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Raleigh, N.C. (Reynolds Coliseum)
Series: NC State leads, 6-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 9, 2012, in Raleigh, N.C. – NC State won, 88-73
Radio: WSOE – 89.3 FM – Ryan Balick and Matt Krause will have the call
Twitter Updates: @ElonScores
Last Time Out
The Phoenix dropped two games in the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament, suffering setbacks against the Commodores and Mercer. Despite the losses, Elon saw at least three players score in double figures in both games and shot over 40 percent from the field. The maroon and gold also finished the tournament with an 80 percent mark from the charity stripe, while the opponents combined for only a 61 percent clip.
Scouting the Wolfpack
NC State is 9-1 on the season after a 76-61 win over Northwestern in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday night in Evanston, Ill. The Wolfpack currently ranks 11th in the country in field goal percentage with the team shooting 48 percent. Two players are averaging in double figures for NC State – Kody Burke (13.7/ppg) and Markeisha Gatling (12.9/ppg), while Gatling is also eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage (66 percent). The Wolfpack is currently undefeated at home in Reynolds this year.
The Series
The Phoenix and the Wolfpack have met six times on the hardwood since 1972. NC State has won all six of the games, including a 88-73 victory in the last meeting a year ago.
All-Tournament
Shannen Cochraham had the two best games of her career at the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament. The junior scored a career-high 16 points against the Commodores after a career-high six field goals. In that game, she went 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line to go along with seven rebounds. The next day against Mercer, Cochraham posted her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 11 reounds, while tallying a career-high three assists. On the week, she shot 65 percent from the field and 80 percent from the charity stripe, while leading the team with 15 points and nine rebounds per game. The Alexandria, Va., native’s efforts landed her on the all-tournament team.
Homecoming
Sunday’s game will be a homecoming for Elon assistant coach Cristy McKinney. McKinney, formerly Cristy Earnhardt, graduated from NC State in 1979 and played for the former Elon and Wolfpack head coach Kay Yow.
Looking Ahead
Elon will return home next weekend for the first time in three weeks. The Phoenix will open Southern Conference play by hosting Samford on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Alumni Gym. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.