Phoenix Women’s Basketball Returns Home for SoCon Action

ELON, N.C. – After over a month of non-conference play and a stretch of three road games, the Elon women’s basketball team (4-7) returns to Alumni Gym on Saturday, Jan. 5, for a 2 p.m. SoCon match up against two-time defending SoCon Tournament champion Samford (5-6). Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for all youth 12 and under.

Saturday, Jan. 5
Site: Elon, N.C. (Alumni Gym)
Series: Samford leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: March 3, 2012 – Samford won, 67-36 (SoCon Tournament)
Radio: WSOE 89.3 FM – Matt Curry and Matt Krause will have the call

Last Time Out
Elon suffered a 75-65 loss in its last outing at North Carolina A&T on New Year’s Eve. The Phoenix pulled within three of the Aggies, 65-62, with just under four minutes remaining but A&T was able to close out the game for the victory. Ali Ford finished with 13 points, while Kelsey Evans and Kelsey Harris each contributed 11. Sam Coffer led all players with 10 boards.

Scouting the Bulldogs
Samford is coming off an 80-51 loss at Auburn on Dec. 29 and is looking to snap a four-game losing skid. Shelby Campbell is the team’s leading scorer with 9.3 points per game, while Hannah Dawson is pulling down the most boards with 5.4 per game. Kendall Schwantz ranks third in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 40.7 percent. The Bulldogs are coached by Mike Morris who is in his 11th season at the helm of the program.

The Series
The series between the Bulldogs and the Phoenix is one that started in 2008 when Samford joined the SoCon. Elon trails Samford, 7-3, with the Bulldogs having won the last two. The Phoenix won the last contest in Alumni Gym, 69-44, on Dec. 5, 2011. Sam Coffer had a break-out game in that contest, scoring a career-high 20 points, while also pulling down six boards.

Mid-Season Test
Saturday’s game marks the first of three in the next five days for the Phoenix. After taking on Samford, Elon hosts Chattanooga on Monday, Jan. 7, before going on the road to Wofford on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The last time Elon played that many games in the short time span was from Jan. 28 – Feb. 1, 2010. The Phoenix went 2-1 in that stretch, picking up wins over Southern Virginia and at Samford, while falling at Chattanooga.

Back to the SoCon
After nine non-conference games, Elon will play only SoCon competition for the remainder of the regular season.

Elon Basketball Live
The Elon Basketball Live radio show presented by Monster Energy returns on Tuesday, Jan. 8, on the Elon campus at Town Table. The radio show will air live on WPCM 920 AM and on elonphoenix.com from 6-7 p.m.

Looking Ahead
The Phoenix is back in Alumni Gym on Monday, Jan. 7, to host Chattanooga. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.