Wolfpack Claims Win Over Elon Phoenix Women’s Basketball

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team was not able to put a blemish on NC State’s perfect record inside Reynolds Coliseum this season, falling to the Wolfpack, 91-51, today, Dec. 8. NCSU improves to 10-1 on the year, while Elon is 2-5.

“We’re down in numbers right now and we didn’t have a big presence on the inside to battle today,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “ Our game plan was to play zone early in the game to try and shut down their inside game, but we gave up so many outside shots in our zone that we had to come out of that. Then they were able to capitalize and really play a tough inside game. This is a game where we have an opportunity to learn from it, grow and be a better team.”

The Wolfpack went 36-of-71 from the field to shoot 51 percent, including 42 percent from beyond the arc after 10 threes. The Phoenix finished with a 38 percent clip (20-of-53) overall, struggling from three-point range with a 16 percent mark after only two threes. Typically steady at the charity stripe, the maroon and gold only hit nine baskets in its 15 trips to the line to shoot 60 percent. NCSU out-rebounded the Phoenix, 46-27, and scored 46 points in the paint, as well as 28 points off turnovers.

Elon saw a career-high from Lenaira Ruffin, who finished with a 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Zora Stephenson also contributed 12 points, while Sam Coffer hauled down a team-high nine boards.

The Wolfpack saw 26 total points from Markeisha Gatling, who finished with an impressive 13-for-14 mark from the field. Myisha Goodwin-Coleman and Lakeesa Daniel also scored in double figures for NCSU with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

In the first half, NC State got off to a hot start with two threes by Goodwin-Coleman before Elon made it a 9-6 game after a layup by Ruffin. The Wolfpack responded with an 8-0 run that was broken by a Stephenson jumper at the 15:26 mark to move the score to 17-8.

Kelsey Harris knocked down a free throw to cap an old-fashioned three-point play followed by a steal and fast-break layup by Lauren Brown to give the Phoenix five straight points and pull within nine, 25-16, at the 9:19 mark. NCSU would respond and eventually knocked down another three, its sixth of the half, to move ahead by 20, 42-22, with under four minutes to play and finished the first 20 minutes with a 53-28 advantage.

Elon shot 44 percent in the first frame, hitting 12-of-27 from the field, but failing to make any baskets from beyond the arc. NC State went 20-of-37 in the first half to shoot 54 percent, including seven threes. The Wolfpack had 22 rebounds to Elon’s 13, as well as 13 points off second-chance efforts.

NCSU continued to surge in the second half, shooting 47 percent from the field, while Elon finished with a 30 percent mark in the second half.

Elon will return home to play next weekend for the first time in three weeks. The Phoenix will open Southern Conference play against Samford on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Alumni Gym. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.