Elon Athletics Weekly Update

ELON, N.C. – Every Monday, Phoenix fans can get a look at the week ahead with our “Elon Athletics Weekly Update” feature when we will preview all the week’s upcoming events for our sports teams. “Follow us” on Twitter at @elonphoenix and @elonscores, “Like” Elon Phoenix on Facebook and continue to check elonphoenix.com to stay current on all things Elon Athletics.

Men’s Basketball (10-9, 2-4 CAA)
Elon vs. Towson, Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m., Alumni Gym
Elon vs. Delaware, Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m., Alumni Gym

• Elon returns home for its next two games versus Towson (Jan. 22) and Delaware (Jan. 24). Six games into its first year in the CAA, the Phoenix is nearing the midway point of its 18-game league schedule.
• Junior guard Tanner Samson hit five threes at James Madison on Jan. 17 and now sits at 200 in his career (fifth in school history). With five more threes, Samson will pass Scottie Rice for fourth in school history. The Littleton, Colo., native trails only Jack Isenbarger (264), Chris Kiger (259), Sebastian Koch (242) and Rice (204) in career threes.
• Rookie guard Elijah Bryant is leading all CAA freshmen in scoring at 14.1 points per game. Bryant has been tabbed CAA Rookie of the Week four times this season and garnered player of the week honors once.

Men’s Tennis (0-1)
Elon at No. 17 Tennessee, Monday, Jan. 19, at 9:30 a.m., Knoxville, Tenn.
ITA Kickoff Weekend
Elon vs. No. 59 Utah, Friday, Jan. 23, at 9 a.m., Athens, Ga.
Elon vs. No. 8 Georgia/ No. 63 Michigan State, Saturday, Jan. 24, TBD, Athens, Ga.
Elon vs. No. 8 Georgia/No. 63 Michigan State, Sunday, Jan. 25, TBD, Athens, Ga.

• Coming off a Southern Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance, the No. 55 Phoenix opened 2015 with a 5-2 loss to No. 27 South Carolina on Jan. 17 in Columbia, S.C.
• The Phoenix earned two points in the form of singles victories by seniors Stefan Fortmann and Juan Madrid. Fortmann, a first team All-SoCon singles selection last season, is coming off a 2014 spring season in which he ended with a 14-match winning streak.
• Elon travels to take on No. 17 Tennessee in a rematch of last year’s first round NCAA Tournament match. The second-seeded Volunteers defeated the Phoenix, 4-1, last May in Durham, N.C.
• Following its match in Tennessee, the Phoenix will take part in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kickoff Weekend in Athens, Ga. on Jan. 23 – 25. Scheduled for Elon are matches against No. 59 Utah and either No. 8 Georgia or No. 63 Michigan State.

Women’s Basketball (11-6, 4-2 CAA)
Elon vs. UNC Wilmington, Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m., Wilmington, N.C.
Elon vs. Northeastern, Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m., Alumni Gym (American Sports Network)

• Elon closed out last week with a 58-43 win over Towson. The Phoenix hauled down a season-high 48 rebounds, while the Tigers’ 43 points is the lowest point total allowed by the Elon this season.
• Both Zora Stephenson and Shay Burnett scored in double figures this week with 11 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
• The Phoenix travels to UNC Wilmington this week before hosting Northeastern at home in Alumni Gym. While the Phoenix and the Seahawks have played each of the last two seasons, Thursday’s game marks the first CAA game between the two programs.

Women’s Tennis (0-1)
Elon vs. South Carolina State, Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
ITA Kickoff Weekend
Elon at No. 3 Florida, Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m., Gainesville, Fla.
Elon vs. Maryland/Georgia State, Sunday, Jan. 25, 12 p.m./2 p.m., Gainesville, Fla.

• Elon prepares for its first home match against South Carolina State on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. After Tuesday’s match, Elon looks ahead in the week where it faces the third-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday, Jan. 24.
• Elon had its first match Jan. 9 against the fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, dropping a 6-1 decision. The lone win for the Phoenix was from freshman Kamilla Beisenova. Beisenova bested UNC’s Maggie Kane in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5).

Women’s Track and Field
Elon at Hokie Invite, Friday – Saturday, Jan. 23 – 24, Blacksburg, Va.

• The Phoenix returns to the state of Virginia this week for the Hokie Invite, hosted by Virginia Tech.
• Last weekend, Elon competed at the Liberty Open in Lynchburg, Va. As a team, the Phoenix finished fourth overall at the meet with 69.20 points, but only had half of its team in competition.
• Freshman Emily Dixon won the heptathlon title at the Liberty Open, scoring 3,435 points, the second-best in school history. Sophomore Bre’anna Warren won the shot put event after setting a new personal-best throw of 44’ 4.25” (13.52m), also the second-best on the program’s all-time performance list. Warren’s throw also qualified her for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) indoor championships.