ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (12-8, 5-4) returns home to Alumni Gym to take on William & Mary (13-7, 4-5) for the first time this season on Friday, Feb. 5. Tip is set for 7p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Elon Ticket Office. Admission is $15 for courtside seats, $8 for reserved seats and $5 for youth (12 and under).
Last Time Out
Elon saw its three-game winning streak snapped in its last game on Jan. 31, falling 59-49 at Hofstra. The Phoenix was held to a 28 percent clip from the field after going 18-of-64 and hit five shots from long distance (24 percent). Elon was only sent to the line 12 times but hit eight of its attempts for 67 percent. The defense tallied a conference season-high 10 blocks. Malaya Johnson led the Phoenix with her second double-double of the season after 11 points and 11 rebounds and also recorded five blocks. Maddie McCallie and Jenifer Rhodes followed with eight points each, while Shay Burnett claimed seven points and six assists.
Scouting the Tribe
William & Mary is 13-7 on the year and 4-5 in conference play after a 69-62 win over Northeastern on Sunday. The Tribe leads the league in blocks (5.7/game), assists (16.8/game), steals (10.4/game) and in the turnover margin (+3.70). The team’s mark in blocked shots ranks 13th in the NCAA and ranks 22nd in assists per game. W&M is now without one of its leading scorers, Abby Rendle, who is out for the rest of the season with an injury. Marlena Tremba also leads the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game, ranking eighth in the league. On the boards, Alexandra Masaquel hauls down 7.9 per game (fourth in CAA) and also posts 11.9 points per game (15th in CAA). Rookie Brianca Boggs is scoring 8.3 points per game and has been named the CAA Rookie of the Week three times this season, including the last two straight weeks.
The Series
The all-time series between Elon and William & Mary is tied three-all. The Phoenix has won the last three meetings, including both conference matchups last season. The last time the Phoenix and the Tribe in Alumni Gym on Feb. 22, 2015, the maroon and gold took the victory, 64-60.
Mark Your Calendars
Phoenix fans should mark their calendars for Elon’s annual Play 4Kay game on Sunday, Feb. 14, against the Northeastern Huskies.
From the Line
Shay Burnett owns an 81.3 percent mark from the charity stripe this season, which ranks third in the league. The sophomore ranks 31st nationally and first in the CAA in free throw attempts (128) and 19th overall and first in the CAA in free throws made (104). As a team, Elon leads the league in both free throw attempts (420) and free throws made (296), which ranks 48th and 52nd in the NCAA, respectively.
Block Party
Elon’s 17 total team blocks on Nov. 29 against East Tennessee State marked a new Division I single-game high this season and also set a new CAA single-game record. The Phoenix saw five players set new or match career highs in blocks against the Buccaneers in Malaya Johnson (5), Autumn Carter (4), Essence Baucom (2), Lauren Brown (2) and Maddie McCallie (1). Elon is currently averaging 4.8 blocks per game as a team, which ranks 53rd nationally and fourth in the league.
On the Boards
Elon currently ranks second in the conference in rebounds per game (41.20 /game). The Phoenix holds a positive 1.5 rebounding margin, which is fourth in the CAA, is second in offensive rebounds (14.3/game) and is second in the league in defensive rebounds (26.9/game).
Off the Bench
The Elon bench has been a contributor to the maroon and gold’s success this season. The Phoenix bench is outscoring the opponents, 395-295, and averaging 19.8 points per game.
Elon is Perfect When…
The Phoenix has a perfect record on the season in games played on Saturday (3-0).
Head Coach Charlotte Smith
Elon head coach Charlotte Smith is in her fifth season with the Phoenix and owns an 81-65 career record. Smith has led Elon to three straight conference tournament semifinal appearances, as well as an at-large bid to the 2015 WNIT, the first in program history, after a 19-13 overall record and 11-7 league mark in its first season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Home-Court Advantage
Alumni Gym has proven to be a tough place to play for opponents under head coach Charlotte Smith. The maroon and gold is 50-16 in Alumni Gym in five seasons under Coach Smith. The Phoenix went 10-5 at home during the 2014-15 season after a 10-4 record during the 2013-14 season. The Phoenix has lost no more than five games at home in a season under Smith.
Next Up
The Phoenix goes back on the road to play at Delaware on Sunday, Feb. 7, in a 2 p.m. tip in the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Del.