Elon WBB Phoenix Hosts Delaware on Sunday

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s basketball team closes out its short homestand on Sunday, Feb. 3, hosting Delaware at Schar Center. The Phoenix and the Blue Hens are set for a 2 p.m. tip-off time.

GAME NOTES

Follow @ElonWBasketball
The game will be streamed for free at Phoenix All-Access through Elon’s athletic website at elonphoenix.com. Fans can also listen to the game on WSOE 89.3. Other updates of the game between the Phoenix and the Blue Hens will be provided on Twitter at the handle @ElonWBasketball.

Alumni Weekend
The Elon women’s basketball program is hosting its alumni weekend and is welcoming many former members of its program to be recognized during halftime of the game.

Series History (Elon leads 7-2)
Meeting for the 10th time on Sunday, Elon holds a 7-2 all-time advantage over the Blue Hens on the basketball hardwood. Last season, both teams split the season series with both programs earning victories on its home floor. The Phoenix prevailed, 64-51, in the most recent contest in Alumni Gym.

Last Time Out
The Phoenix fell to Drexel, 59-44, on Friday, Feb. 1, in a rematch of last year’s championship game at the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. A quick start for the Dragons in the fourth quarter downed the Phoenix, who was defeated for the fifth straight game. Emily Maupin led the maroon and gold with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting while Ariel Colón added 11 off the bench.

Fastbreaks
• Elon comes into Sunday’s contest with a 7-12 overall record and a 2-6 ledger in the CAA, which is currently eighth overall in the standings.
• This weekend will conclude a short homestand for the Phoenix, who has played in three league games at home so far this season. That is tied with College of Charleston for the fewest in the CAA.
• Elon is fifth in the CAA in scoring at 64.9 points per game. The Phoenix is also in the top-five of the league in field goal percentage at .401 percent.
• Maupin has been a key part of the Phoenix’s offense this season. The Charlottesville, Va., native is averaging a team-high 12.8 points per game after only averaging less than two a game during her freshman year. She has also scored in double figures in 13 games and is averaging 14.3 PPG during CAA play.
• Maupin is also the CAA leader in field-goal percentage at .510 percent. Her team-high 6.4 boards per game is eighth overall in the league.
• Brie Perpignan and Kayla Liles have been key players for the Phoenix during league play in their freshman campaigns. Perpignan is averaging 24.5 minutes per game in league games with four starts while Liles is at 21.3 minutes per contest and six starts. Liles is third on the team in scoring at 7.0 points per game and second in rebounding (5.0) in her eight league games, while Perpignan is fourth in scoring on the squad at 6.9 points per game.
• Jaylin Powell leads the CAA in three-point percentage at .432 percent. The Raleigh, N.C., native is shooting .500 percent from downtown in league games.
• Saadia Munford is fourth in the CAA in free throw percentage at .806. She is also leads the team in assists with 2.9 per game.
• Elon returns eight letterwinners from its team that successfully defended its Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
• The Phoenix closed out 2017-18 with a 25-8 record overall and a 14-4 mark during league play including a 13-game winning streak to close out the regular season and conference tournament.
• The Phoenix was tabbed to finish third in the 2018-19 CAA Preseason Poll as conducted by the league’s head coaches on Oct. 18. Elon received one first-place vote en route to 61 points for a tie for third place. James Madison (79 points) and Drexel (71 points) were selected in front of the Phoenix, who tied with Delaware for third with 61 points.
• Elon returns three starters from last year’s team including sophomore guard Saadia Munford, an CAA All-Rookie team selection in 2017-18. Munford was chosen as a Preseason All-CAA selection this season with her spot on the third team.
• Additionally, the Phoenix added five newcomers to the 2018-19 roster, which will again be one of the youngest in the nation with only two upperclassmen and no seniors.

Scouting Delaware (9-11, 4-4 CAA)
The Blue Hens are 9-11 overall and 4-4 in the CAA after picking up its third win in a row with a 70-59 victory at William & Mary on Friday. Delaware currently sits seventh overall in the standings and has posted a 3-4 record on the road so far this season.

Delaware is averaging 60.6 points per game this season, which is next-to-last in the league. Junior forward Samone DeFreese is averages a team-best 9.9 points per game on the season and 10.6 points per contest during league play. She also is the top rebounder for the Blue Hens at 6.4 boards per contest. Junior guard Abby Gonzales scored a team-high 16 points at William & Mary and is second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game and in assists with 60.

Schar Center
After playing its home games in Alumni Gym since the start of the program in 1972, Elon moves into its new facility, Schar Center, this season. The 5,100-seat facility will provide an elite venue for Phoenix basketball and volleyball games in addition to convocations, speakers and other major campus events. The facility is named for Dwight and Martha Schar, of Palm Beach, Fla.

20-Game Winners
With 25 victories last season, Elon posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time as a Division I program. Overall, Elon has posted three 20-win seasons during the Division I era.

Up Next
Elon is back on the road next weekend, starting with a contest at UNCW on Friday, Feb. 8. That game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.