Elon Women’s Basketball Falls Short at Wofford

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team suffered another tough setback, falling to Wofford, 68-65, today, Jan. 27, in an Education Day game.

The Phoenix (8-12, 4-5 SoCon) went 24-of-60 from the field to shoot 40 percent but only hit one three (nine percent) from long distance. Elon was successful from the charity stripe hitting 16-of-22 chances for a 73 percent mark.

Wofford (5-14, 3-6 SoCon) shot 46 percent from the field on a 27-of-58 performance, including 33 percent from three-point range. The Terriers outrebounded the Phoenix by a slight 38-37 margin. Wofford guard Logan Morris posted a game-high 25 points, while Ashton Fleming grabbed 10 rebounds.

Jessica Farmer went 6-of-8 from the field for the Phoenix and led the team with 14 points. Lauren Brown finished with 12 points and five assists, while Sam Coffer led the team on the boards with seven rebounds.

Elon led by as much as four points in the first half before Wofford took its first lead at the 11:02 mark, 16-13. The Phoenix evened the score at 19-all after a jumper by Farmer with just over six minutes on the clock. The Terriers managed an 8-2 run to take a 27-21 advantage and force an Elon timeout with 3:31 to play. A layup by Kelsey Harris and an old-fashioned three-point play by Brown kept the maroon and gold within three in the final minutes but Wofford was continually able to answer to keep the lead. Brown hit a basket at the buzzer to pull the Phoenix within five, 32-37, at the break.

The Phoenix shot 43 percent in the first frame but did not take any shots from beyond the arc. Wofford held a shooting percentage of 44 percent after the first 20, including a 50 percent mark from thee-point range, and claimed the slight advantage on the boards, 21-19.

The Terriers led by as much as nine in the second half before free throws by Harris and a layup by Brown off a steal capped an 8-0 Phoenix run to bring the maroon and gold within one, 52-51, with 9:32 remaining.

At the 7:24 mark, play was halted due to an injury on the court, the game resumed a half hour later with Wofford leading by just one, 54-53.

Elon kept the game within reach, trailing by four, 64-60, with under two minutes left on the clock. A jumper by Farmer was followed by a Stephenson three with 42 seconds on the clock pulled the Phoenix back within one, 66-65. The Terriers managed a layup with 15 seconds to play but the game remained within one possession, 68-65, with the ball in the hands of the maroon and gold. Stephenson was able to get a shot up as the clock expired but it was no good, leaving the Phoenix just short.

Elon will return home next weekend to host local conference rival UNCG on Saturday, Feb. 1, in a 2 p.m. tip in Alumni Gym.