Elon Women’s Basketball Hosts College of Charleston on Sunday Afternoon

ELON, N.C. – Coming off a thrilling last-second win on Friday night, the Elon women’s basketball team returns to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tip versus the College of Charleston Cougars.

THE SERIES: Elon and College of Charleston will be meeting for the 20th time on Sunday in a series that dates back to 1981, as the Cougars lead the all-time series, 13-6. After dropping six-straight meetings to the Cougars going into last season, the Phoenix won both regular-season meetings versus CofC in 2010-11. The last time the two teams met in Alumni Gym, the Phoenix needed all 40 minutes of regulation and a five-minute overtime to register a 56-49 win on Jan. 22, 2011. The Phoenix used a 13-0 run with over the final five minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime, as Ali Ford hit a deep three-pointer with 1:54 left and a pair of free throws for Elon. In overtime, Ford assisted or scored or assisted on the Phoenix’s first three baskets to give the maroon and gold a five-point edge, one it would not relinquish down the stretch. Elon and CofC meet again on Feb. 20 in Charleston, S.C.

ON THE HORIZON: Following Sunday’s game against CofC, Elon hits the road for a noon-tip on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Western Carolina. The Phoenix returns home on Jan. 23 for a 7 p.m. game against Triad rival UNCG.

FROM LONG DISTANCE: After hitting five threes against Georgia Southern on Friday night, Ali Ford sits at 229 career three-pointers – six shy of breaking Lorretta Lawson’s all-time record of 234. In four career games versus College of Charleston, Ford has connected on nine three-pointers. Ford became the Southern Conference’s all-time three-point leader on Dec. 29 versus Wagner when she passed Davidson’s Janna Magette, who knocked down 213 in her career.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: Aiesha Harper provided the late-game heroics for Elon on Jan. 13 against Georgia Southern. With 10 seconds left, Harper took the ball 94-feet to the basket through the GSU defense for a layup with 3.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner in a 61-60 victory. Harper also dealt out six assists in the win. Elon’s last buzzer-beater win came last season on Jan. 19 at UNCG when Ali Ford’s layup as time expired led the Phoenix to a 63-61 win.

ON POINT: Aiesha Harper leads the Southern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.7 and ranks fourth in the league in assists per game at 4.3. 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 1,313 career points, Ali Ford recently passed Mae Haith for eighth on Elon’s all-time scoring chart. Ford needs 41 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 10-for-10 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 (104) 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.