ELON, N.C. – For the first time as Elon’s head coach, and on the 22-year anniversary of her historic dunk, Charlotte Smith makes her return to Carmichael Arena to face her alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on Sunday, Dec. 4. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Fans can watch the game via the ACC Network or listen live on Elon’s student radio station, WSOE 89.3 FM.
THE SERIES: Sunday marks the 11th all-time meeting between Elon and UNC. The Tar Heels lead the series, 8-2. The last meeting between the two schools was Dec. 21, 2014, when the Phoenix dropped an 85-67 decision to sixth-ranked UNC in Myrtle Beach, S.C., at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The Tar Heels have won seven straight against Elon. Elon’s last win over UNC was an 83-71 victory in the 1970s (date unknown).
22 YEARS LATER: Sunday’s game in Chapel Hill marks the 22-year anniversary of Charlotte Smith’s dunk against North Carolina A&T inside Carmichael Arena. Smith became only the second player in the history of women’s basketball to dunk in a game with her slam against the Aggies.
STORIED HISTORY: Charlotte Smith is the most decorated player in the history of UNC women’s hoops. Smith, who starred for the Tar Heels from 1992-95, is one of only two UNC women’s basketball players to have had her jersey retired. The 6-foot forward who wore No. 23 was named National Player of the Year by ESPN in 1995 following a career in which she scored 2,094 points (fifth all-time at UNC) and grabbed 1,200 rebounds (second all-time at UNC). She is perhaps best known for her performance in the 1994 NCAA Championship game, when her buzzer-beating three-pointer gave UNC the national crown with a 60-59 win over Louisiana Tech. She also had a championship-record 23 rebounds in the game and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. The Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in 1992, Smith earned All-ACC and ACC Tournament MVP honors in her junior and senior seasons as the Tar Heels claimed back-to-back conference crowns.
ELON vs. THE ACC: Elon has a 19-19 mark all-time against current members of the ACC. Elon is 2-8 against UNC, 14-3 against Wake, 4-3 against Duke, 1-8 against NC State, 0-2 against Georgia Tech and 0-3 against Virginia Tech. Since making the transition to the Division I ranks, Elon has one win against an ACC foe – last year’s victory over NC State.
ELON vs. POWER FIVE: Elon’s win on Nov. 14 over Rutgers marked its first over a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Phoenix went into the game 0-1 versus current Big Ten members with a setback against Wisconsin in 2000-01. All time, Elon has an overall record of 24-37 against current Power Five schools.
LOOKING AHEAD: Elon will play its third straight game versus a member of the ACC on Dec. 8 when it travels to Durham, N.C., to face Duke.
MILESTONE WATCH: With 78 points this season, senior guard Lauren Brown has accumulated 860 career points heading into Sunday’s game. Not far behind, senior forward Jenifer Rhodes has 806 career points and junior guard Shay Burnett has tallied 808 career points.
OFF THE BENCH: The Elon reserves have been outstanding so far this season, outscoring their counterparts by a 37-point margin on the year, 127-90. Jada Graves is averaging 8.7 points per game off the bench.
HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE SMITH: Elon head coach Charlotte Smith is in her sixth season with the Phoenix and owns career record of 91-72. Smith has led Elon to two straight WNIT appearances and three overall post-season appearances in the last five seasons. Her teams have won 18 or more games in three of the last four seasons heading into 2016-17.
Look for Paris Kea to drop 40 on Burnett and Elon!
Page could’ve used 40 from Paris the last time they went head to head when Southern Alamance and ms.Burnett beat them by 20 for the conference championship.