Records Fall as Phoenix Women’s Basketball Tops Catamounts in Play 4Kay Game

ELON, N.C. – Ali Ford hit her 316th career three pointer to become the Southern Conference’s all-time three-point leader tonight, Feb. 4, as the Elon women’s basketball team (12-9, 9-3) defeated Western Carolina (6-15, 4-8), 60-51, in Alumni Gym in the annual Play 4Kay game.

Another record was matched for the Phoenix as Kelsey Evans finished with seven blocks to tie Elon’s single-game record and set a new career high.

“I’m excited about the defensive intensity that we came out with tonight,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “We needed to get back to playing Elon basketball in terms of our defense. We had some great sparks from the bench and it was very contagious in this game.”

Elon finished 22-of-60 from the field to shoot 36 percent and scored 26 points in the paint, while WCU finished with a 35 percent shooting mark. On defense, the Phoenix blocked 10 shots, while scoring 22 points off 20 Catamount turnovers.

Ford led all players with 16 points, connecting on 6-of-12 from the field. The Morganton, N.C., native also finished with four assists. Kelsey Harris recorded 13 points, while Jessica Farmer made it three players in double figures with a career-high 11 points.

All 11 players that dressed in the maroon and gold tonight saw significant playing time as 10 Phoenix stayed in the game for 13 minutes or more.

With the score tied at 10 in the first half, the Phoenix put together an 11-point run with five points by Farmer and six by Ford to lead 21-10 with 9:40 to play. The Catamounts pulled within four, 21-17, with just under seven minutes remaining before Elon closed out the first frame on an 11-4 run to hold an 32-21 edge at the break.

Elon opened the second half on an 11-2 run to extend its lead to 20, 43-23, after a layup by Ford at the 16:39 mark. The largest advantage for the maroon and gold came at 11:14 when Autumn Carter finished a three-point play opportunity at the charity stripe to put the Phoenix up by 24, 53-29. The Catamounts would not surrender and fought to the end, cutting the Elon lead to nine by the end of the game. However, it was too little too late for WCU as the Phoenix won its seventh straight game at home.

Elon will play its next game at Chattanooga on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 5 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn.