ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s basketball team plays its second game of a three-game home stretch on Friday night, Jan. 13, when the Phoenix hosts the Georgia Southern Eagles. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside Alumni Gym.
ELON VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN: Elon and Georgia Southern will be meeting for the 18th time on Friday night, with the Eagles holding an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met, GSU escaped with a two-point victory in Statesboro, Ga., on Feb. 7, as a three-point heave near half court from then-senior Julie Taylor clanked off the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded. The two teams meet again this season on Feb. 18.
ON THE HORIZON: Following Friday’s game against GSU, the Phoenix remains at home for a Sunday-afternoon tilt versus the College of Charleston Cougars at 2 p.m. Sunday is “Dads and Daughters Day” in Alumni Gym, as tickets cost just $5 for all dads, while daughters get in free.
FROM LONG DISTANCE: Junior guard Ali Ford is nearing Elon’s all-time three-pointers record, as the Morganton, N.C., has connected on 224 career three-balls, trailing only Lorretta Lawson’s mark of 234. Ford became the Southern Conference’s all-time leader in three-pointers on Dec. 29 when she passed Davidson’s Janna Magette’s mark of 213. Ford leads the SoCon in threes made this season with 48 (3.2 per game), good for eighth in the nation.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN: Junior forward Kelsey Evans recorded her 17th career double-double at Davidson on Jan. 4 with 15 points and 10 boards, her second this season. Evans led the Southern Conference in double-doubles last season with 11.
ON POINT: Senior guard Aiesha Harper leads the Southern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.8 and ranks fourth in the league in assists per game at 4.1. Harper turned in a career-high eight assists in Elon’s win over Wagner on Dec. 29 in the Marriott Cavalier Classic.
MOVING ON UP: With 1,298 career points, Ali Ford recently passed Mae Haith for eighth on Elon’s all-time scoring chart. Ford needs 56 points to pass Lakia Hayes for seventh all-time.
THE CLOSER: Kelsey Evans has been key down the stretch of games for the Phoenix this season. Evans has hit 15-of-16 field goal attempts (93.8 percent) in the final five minutes of games and is 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK: Aiesha Harper played in her 100th career game on Dec. 29 against Wagner. Harper has played in more games (103) than anyone on Elon’s current roster.
PLAY4KAY SET FOR FEB. 4: Elon will participate in the 2012 Play 4Kay initiative when the Phoenix women’s basketball team plays host to Furman on Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Play 4Kay, formerly known as WBCA Pink Zone, is an initiative that allows a nation of coaches to raise awareness and funds for cancer research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The official charity is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The late Kay Yow, former Elon and NC State University head women’s basketball coach, served as the catalyst for Play 4Kay after her third recurrence of breast cancer in 2006. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and passed away on January 24, 2009.
ROAD TO ASHEVILLE: The 2012 Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for March 2-5 in Asheville, N.C. Kimmel Arena will play host to the first round and quarterfinal games on March 2-3 before the tournament shifts to the Asheville Civic Center for the semifinals and championship on March 4-5.