Elon’s Harris Scores 1,000th Point in Women’s Basketball Senior Day Win Over Wofford

ELON, N.C. – Kelsey Harris became the 20th player in Elon women’s basketball history to reach 1,000-career points as she reached that mark today, Feb. 22, in an 82-59 win over Wofford in Alumni Gym on Senior Day. The victory also marked the sixth straight home win for the Phoenix.

“Kelsey Harris did a great job of understanding the scouting report and knowing what Wofford was running today,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “I thought that led to some easy steals and scores and that really sparked us. It’s been a joy to watch her (over her career). She’s been an outstanding player. Very coachable, understands the game and is passionate about it.”

Harris led the Phoenix (13-13, 9-6 SoCon) with 18 points off seven field goals. The senior was 12 points shy of the mark entering the game and reached 1,000 with a free throw in the second half.

Lauren Brown and Sam Coffer both posted 13 points in the game for the Phoenix. Jenifer Rhodes fell just short of a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds, but also added three blocks.

Elon finished 31-of-65 from the field, with 40 points coming in the paint, to shoot 48 percent and went 42 percent from beyond the arc off five threes. The Phoenix had its second-best free throw output of the season with an 83 percent mark after going 15-of-18 from the line. The maroon and gold won the battle on the boards, 42-34, and also tallied seven blocks.

Wofford (15-20, 3-12 SoCon) was held to a 30 percent mark from the field after a 17-of-56 performance. The Terriers finished with a 32 percent clip from long distance, making 8-of-25 threes. Jordan Frazier scored a game and team-high 18 points for the Terriers, while Ashton Fleming had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

With Elon leading by three, 15-12, a layup by Rhodes began a run of seven straight for the Phoenix to extend its advantage to 10, 22-12, halfway through the opening frame. The maroon and gold went up by as much as 14 points, 34-20, with less than five minutes remaining before the Terriers used an 11-0 run to cuts its deficit to one, 34-33, with three minutes left. Five points by Lenaira Ruffin in the final two and a half minutes, including a three with 22 ticks left, put Elon back up by five, 39-34, at the break.

Elon shot 43 percent in the first 20, while Wofford held a 36 percent mark. The Terriers held the slight edge on the boards, 18-17, and had nine second-chance points.

Wofford pulled back within one, 43-42, at the 17:12 mark in the second half, but Elon responded with the next 14 points to make it a 57-42 game after a layup by Rhodes. The Phoenix never looked back, leading by no less than 15 points for the rest of the game. Free throws in the final minute by Brown gave Elon its final 23-point advantage.

Elon returns to Alumni Gym on Monday, Feb. 24, to host Furman at 7 p.m. It’s the last regular season home game for the Phoenix.