Elon Tops Furman in Annual Play4Kay Event

ELON, N.C. – Ali Ford and Kelsey Evans each scored 20+ points to help the Elon women’s basketball team to a 76-58 victory over the Furman Paladins on Saturday, Feb. 4, in its annual Play4Kay game in Alumni Gym.

Both squads now sit at 11-11 overall and 7-6 in Southern Conference play.

Ford, who was honored before the game for breaking Elon’s all-time three-point record last week, scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including a 5-of-12 clip from beyond the arc.

Evans finished the night with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting to go along with eight boards.

“Today was a very special day for us with the Play4Kay event and I’m proud of the way we battled with passion and fire for all of those who have been impacted in some way, shape or form by breast cancer,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “We shot the ball well today and focused in on valuing the basketball and executing our game plan at both ends of the floor. We were physical for all 40 minutes tonight from the start of the jump ball and showed great intensity.”

After Furman made it a one-point game with 13:20 left in the second half, the Phoenix answered with a 17-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 63-47 lead on an old-fashioned three-point play by Aiesha Harper.

It was all Elon from there, as Furman could pull no closer than 11 points in the game’s final five minutes.

Kallie Hovatter provided a spark off the bench for Elon in the win, scoring nine points and hauling down five boards in career-high 28 minutes. Hovatter also ended the night with a career-best five steals to lead the Elon defense.

The Phoenix dominated the Paladins in the paint, 44-18, and turned 24 Furman turnovers into 33 points. Elon turned the ball over 15 times, leading to just 13 points for the Paladins.

Ford scored 18 first-half points, including a fast-break layup with less than seven seconds remaining, to give Elon a 39-34 lead at intermission.

Turnovers proved to be the difference in the first half, as the Phoenix turned nine Furman miscues in 14 points. Elon committed just three turnovers in the opening frame.

After the Paladins made it a one-point game with less than 13 minutes remaining, Jermile’ Batten completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 12:22 to play to give the Phoenix a four-point edge, 49-45.

The Phoenix capped its 17-2 run with 7:37 to play in the game after Harper slashed to the basket for a layup and foul, forcing a Furman timeout. Harper hit the ensuing free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play and give Elon a 63-47 lead.

Elon returns to action on Monday night, Feb. 6, when it makes the short trip to Greensboro to face UNCG at 7 p.m.